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Catalonia displays its popular heritage on the streets of Stockholm
The Adifolk International Gathering brings 1,200 performers from 42 organizations to the Swedish capital in its most massive edition.
Stockholm will become a great showcase for Catalan popular culture this weekend with the celebration of the 38th edition of the Adifolk International Gathering. From August 14 to 16, nearly 1,200 performers from 42 organizations will participate in a program that will transform various spaces in the Swedish capital into stages for Catalan music, dance, folklore and tradition.
L'Aplec, considered one of the main events for the external projection of Catalan popular and traditional culture, is reaching its largest edition this year. The program is part of Kulturfestivalen, Stockholm's great open-air cultural festival, which offers free music, dance, theater, art and workshops for five days.
Catalan popular culture will be there in all its diversity. In the giants and capgrossos section, the Capgrossos of the Agrupació de Colles Geganteres de Catalunya, the Gegants de Palafrugell, the Colla Gegantera de Blanes, the Colla Gegantera i Grallera de Balaguer, the Geganters de Rubí and the Colla de Nanos i Gegants de Vinaròs will participate, among others.
Castles, music and dance
One of the highlights will be the castellera day, with the Castellers of Stockholm, the Saballuts of Sabadell and the Bordegassos of Vilanova i la Geltrú, who will share the spotlight in one of the most recognizable expressions of Catalan popular culture.
Music will also have a prominent presence with groups such as the Cobla Lluïsos from Taradell, the Grup Boira from Habaneres and the Grallers from Segona. In the choral field, the Chamber Choir of the Catalan Federation of Choral Entities, the Canigó Choir from Vic and the Young Choir of the Nou Horitzó Choir from Sant Vicenç de Castellet will participate.
Sardanas and traditional dance will complete an essential part of the program with the participation of the Colla Sardanista Somnis del Pla, the Agrupació Folklòrica Amunt i Crits de Terrassa, the Dansaires del Pi d'Alpicat, the Colla Dolç Infern of the Grup Sardanista Montserrat and Tarragona Dansa.
There will also be space for the esbarts, with the Agrupació Folklòrica Igualadina, and for the baton dances, represented by the Masquefa Baton Dance Group, the Bastoners of Súria, the Blanes Baton Dance Group and the Albada Baton Dance Group from Tàrrega.
The festive imagination takes to the streets
The Catalan festive universe will be especially visible with the procession and bestiary dances. The Ball de Pastorets from Barberà del Vallès, the Ball de les Gitanes from Vilafranca del Penedès, the Ball de Panderos from Vilafranca del Penedès, the Ball de Gitanes from Mas Rampinyo and the Ball del Puro from Sant Fruitós de Bages will participate.
The bestiary will be represented by the Gall de la Pobla de Montornès and the Mulassa de Montblanc, while the Drac de Jesús will provide the dimension linked to the fire bestiary. The Ball de Diables de la Pobla de Mafumet, the 7 Capital Sins and the Falcons of Barcelona will complete the representation of some of the most spectacular manifestations of the popular festival.
The program will also include proposals linked to traditional games, with the participation of the Companyia de Jocs l'Anònima de Berga, as well as the presence of the Pubillatge Nacional de Catalunya.
The Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández, will chair the Government's representation in Stockholm, accompanied by the Director General of Popular Culture and Cultural Associations, Carol Duran; the Director General of the European Union and Foreign Action, Oriol Lázaro, and the Government's delegate to the Nordic and Baltic Countries, José Luis Martos.
For three days, the streets and squares of Stockholm will become a space for shared celebration, where castles, giants, sardanas, music, dances, fire and popular traditions will show the vitality of a culture that continues to be built through collective participation.
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