Diades Catalanes - Trobada de Gegants

Catalan Giants Invade the Streets of Perpignan

The Diades Catalanes are a major gathering of Catalan popular culture held in Perpignan. This festive event brings together the colles geganteres (giant groups) and colles de bestiari (fantastic beast groups) from Roussillon, Catalonia, and beyond to celebrate Catalan intangible cultural heritage.

The Trobada de Gegants

The heart of the event is the Trobada de colles geganteres i bestiaris, a gathering of multi-meter-high Catalan giants carried by groups of passionate volunteers. The festivities unfold in several stages:

• Plantada: presentation and installation of the giants in front of the Palais des Congrès
• Cercavilla: grand parade of the giants through the streets of the city center
• Ball de Gegants: traditional dances of the giants in the squares
• Presentation of the participating giant couples

Groups from all over Catalan Country

The event brings together giant groups from numerous towns:

• Perpignan, Le Soler, Argelès-sur-Mer, Saint-Hippolyte, Elne from the French side
• Les Angles, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Tautavel
• Groups from Southern Catalonia: Alguaire, Badalona, and other Catalan cities

Music and Folklore

The giants are accompanied by traditional musical groups such as Els Salanc'aires, the Nyerros del Conflent, and the folk group Els Dansaires Catalans. The music of the gralles (Catalan oboes), drums, and flabiol accompanies the parades and dances of the giants.