You can find the following articles in this section : A region steeped in tradition The rich and varied historical heritage of Catalonia means that the Pyrenees-Orientales is a region steeped in tradition. Festivals and regular events, many of them having their origins in the distant past, serve both to unify Catalan society and give visitors and inhabitants a reason to (...) read more... Carnaval (February/March) Carnival Time ’Come on take me to the Mardi Gras’ Hundred of years ago, the followers of the Catholic religion in Italy started the tradition of holding a wild costume festival right before the first day of Lent. Because Catholics are not supposed to eat meat during Lent, they (...) read more... Diada de Catalunya - September The Diada de Catalunya 11th September The 11th September is a national holiday throughout Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, reflecting the local importance of The Diada which signifies the affirmation of Catalonian nationality. September 11th is in fact the anniversary of the day in (...) read more... Diada de Catalunya - September Diada de Catalunya 11th September The 11th September, the Diada de Catalunya, is a national holiday throughout Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, politically and historically significant in its affirmation of Catalonian nationality. The Diada is in fact the anniversary of the day in 1714, (...) read more... Fête de l’Ours - Prats de Mollo - February Fete de l’Ours et carnaval de Prats de Mollo A not to be missed yearly event click to enlarge The location Built on the banks of the river Tech, surrounded by mountains, Prats de Mollo was one of the most importan read more... Fête de la Belle Epoque - May Fete de la Belle Epoque The "Belle Epoque" festival - Vernet-les-Bains - May In 1845, the Pacha Mehemet Ali was king of Egypt. He was surrounded by advisers from France, notably one Doctor Clot. The doctor was treating the king’s son, Ibrahim Pacha, who suffered seriously from (...) read more... Fête de la Musique - June Fete de la Musique - June Every year around the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, both amateur and professional musicians from all over the world perform free concerts in venues throughout France. The festival aims to celebrate music in all forms and is open to anyone It all (...) read more... Fete de Mailly - Port Vendres Fete de Mailly - Port Vendres September In commemoration of the placing of the first stone of the Obélisque in Port Vendres, on the orders of the Maréchal de France, comte de Mailly, the Fete de Mailly takes place every September. The day begins with a fancy dress parade through the (...) read more... La Chandeleur - February Pancake Day. Dating back to roman times, La Chandeleur (Candlemas), the Feast of the presentation of Jesus, used to mark the end of the Christmas season and is celebrated 40 days after Christmas on the 2nd February. The tradition was to light a candle in the church and carry it home (...) read more... La galette des rois - December La Fête des Rois (Three Kings Day) The French tradition of serving a frangipane filled tart known as the ’galette des rois’ (or the gateau des rois in the South of France) on, or around the 6th January, (the first Sunday of each New Year) actually dates back to the 14th (...) read more... La Ronde Cérétane (Céret marathon) - September La Ronde Cérétane - Céret marathon Sunday, 17th September - Céret Live music accompanies the departure of the competitors in ’la Ronde Céretane’ as they set off under the plane trees in the Avenue d’Espagne. International athletes, runners in fancy dress, different (...) read more... La Trobada du Canigou and Les feux de la Saint Jean - June La Trobada La Trobada du Canigou A lovely tradition to celebrate the Summer Solstice of St Jean around the 22nd June is the meeting of Catalans from both sides of the Pyrénées on the summit of the Canigou. Troops of walkers and representatives of villages and towns throughout Catalonia, (...) read more... Pirena - Font Romeu - January International dog team racing The Pirena, a *’mushing’ or dog slege pulling race takes place on the cross country ski pistes of La Calme in Font Romeu. This is just one of the stages of the dog sleigh race which is an inter-frontier event and very popular in southern (...) read more... Rivesaltes Apricot Festival - July Fête de l’Abricot July Rivesaltes Rivesaltes is not only famous for its sweet fortified wine, it is also well known for its apricots. Every July, the town celebrates the fruit with a festival of apricot tasting, apricot jam, apricot eating competitions, apricot drinking (look out for (...) read more... RODELLA DE MONTBOLO - July 30th July RODELLA DE MONTBOLO The origin of this procession goes back to 1465 when a shepherd of Montbolo called Noguer de GASNACH had a vision at the Col de la Porta (Col de Formentere). In this vision, two witches came to Montbolo, bringing with them bad weather. When they arrived at the (...) read more... The AFM Telethon - December December The AFM Telethon (l’Association Française contre les Myopathies et les maladies neuromusculaires) The AFM Telethon has become France’s major fund-raising event with a record 104 million euros raised in 2004! This year, the French Muscular Dystrophy Association ("AFM") (...) read more... The Canigou race (August) The Canigou race Sunday 3rd August 2008 - Vernet-les-Bains At the beginning of the twentieth century, well before the introduction of fridges and freezers into the region, inhabitants of Vernet les Bains used to climb high into the mountain, and cut blocks of ice from the hillside which (...) read more...

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