Festivals and popular culture
Mataró celebrates its festive calendar with great intensity. People take part in organized street events and numerous collectives, companies, establishments and individuals take an active role in the organization and development of the most popular events. Mataró has a history and a few masquerades with a festive heritage and traditional events which make it one of the most important cultural centres in Catalonia.
The main festive events in the city's calendar are:
The arrival of the Royal Messengers and the Three Kings. These are days of magic for the very youngest. The streets of the city fill with more people than at any time to watch the parade pass by on the 5th January.
Carnival. These are days of excess which also include festive and traditional events like the carnival parade and the burial of the sardine. The appearance and enthronement of the Vella Quaresma marks the beginning, on Sunday mornings and for seven weeks, of the sawing of the leg in the Square of the Peixateria.
Saint Jordi, a festival with a special street presence - in addition to the the traditional stalls of books and roses - of the city's giants. The Dragon of Mataró is the protagonist of the evening on 23rd April, lighting the place up with his dances and special firework displays. There are cultural events for the Diada all over town.
Les Santes, Mataró Town Festival . The town festival of Mataró is full of traditional and ritual events and a fantastic programme of shows and music. The streets fill with people enjoying the festive atmosphere.
