SITGES SANTA TECLA 2023

Thursday 22nd  September

La vigília (The Eve)

EXHIBITION OF SANTA TECLA'S IMAGE

Carrer d'en Bosch, 10-12 (Palau del Rei Moro)

From 10am till the start of the Procession.

21 MUSKETS ARE FIRED AND THE PARISH CHURCH BELLS ARE RUNG

2pm La Fragata beach

By Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

PROCESSÓ CÍVICA

7pm 

The group of traditional dancers and musicians and the authorities, with the musical group Agrupació Musical Suburband, will recover the shrine of Santa Tecla from the place designated by the “pendonista” of Santa Tecla 2022, and they will accompany it to the parish church.

Route:  C/ D’en Bosch, Davallada, Port Alegre, Rafel Llopart, Sant Damià, Sant Sebastià, Ànimes, Hort Gran, Francesc Gumà, Sant Isidre, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Espalter, Plaça Pou Vedre, Bassa Rodona, Sta. Tecla, Primer de Maig, Passeig de la Ribera, Nou, Major, Ajuntament i Baluard

On Plaça de l’Ajuntament the popular dances will receive the image of Santa Tecla and will take it, accompanied by the authorities, the “Pendonista” and “Cordonistes”, to the parish church, where it will be placed in the presbytery to preside over the liturgies of the festival.  

FIREWORKS

11pm From la Punta (Parish Church), La Fragata and the breakwaters

By Pirotècnia Igual S.A.  

SARDANAS EVE

From midnight at Cap de la Vila

With Cobla Sitgetana.

CONCERTS

From midnight, on La Fragata beach

With Roka Curtiada, Sr. Fong i DJ GWARE

Friday 23rd  September

Diada Santa Tecla, protomártir, Patron Saint of Sitges

JOYFUL AND FESTIVE CHILDREN’S “MATINAL” PARADE

With the participation of Sitges children,  who will performance the popular dances. There are 3 routes and breakfast for the participating children when the route ends.

MATINAL FOC (Parade for children demons and dragons)

6.30am From Plaça de l’Ajuntament

Infant beasts will alternate among the groups of devils that will participate in this order: Diables de l’Agrupació de Balls Populars, Colla Vella de Diables and Colla Jove de Diables. 

Route: Davallada, Barcelona, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Josep, Espalter, plaça del Pou Vedre, Bassa Rodona, Santa Tecla, Primer de Maig, Paseo de la Ribera (sea side) and La Fragata.

MATINAL GIGANTES Y BAILES BLANCOS (Matinée route for the children’s parade of popular dances without fire and with the giants made by children)

7am From Baluard

Route: Fonollar, Baluard Vidal i Quadras, Port de n’Alegre, Rafel Llopart, Sant Damià, Sant Sebastià, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Pere, Paseo de la Ribera (mountain side) until la Fragata.

MATINAL PEQUEÑA  (Route of the smallest children participating in the “Matinal”)

8am Plaça de l’Ajuntament

Route: plaça de l’Ajuntament, carrer d’en Bosch, Davallada, Barcelona, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Major, Nou, Paseo de la Ribera until la Fragata. 

SOLEMN MASS IN HONOUR OF SANTA TECLA

11am In the Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla

Presided over by Father Josep Pausas, rector. This year, a group of expendonistes will make the offering to Santa Tecla.

EXIT FROM MASS

After the celebration of mass, from the Baluard to the Plaça de l’Ajuntament

Musical parade of the Band, which will accompany the authorities to the Town Hall. Then, all the dances and their respective musicians will perform, together with the Cobla Maricel and the Suburband del Retiro Music Group, they will come together in one of most magical moments of the festivities.

After the performance of the popular dances, the band will perform "Els Segadors", the national hymn of Catalonia.

CASTELLS EXHIBITION (Human Towers)

1pm Plaça de l’Ajuntament

Performed by Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges. 

CONCERT- VERMOUTH OF FESTA MAJOR

1pm After the exit of mass

CASINO PRADO SUBURENSE with Banda Agrupació Musical Suburband del Retiro.
SOCIETAT RECREATIVA EL RETIRO with Cobla Maricel.

SUBIDA Y BAJADA DEL PILAR DE LA JOVE DE SITGES (a human tower walks up and down the stairs of La Punta)

6pm Baluard and the stairs of la Punta

Performed by la Colla Jove de Castellers de Siges

SANTA TECLA’S PROCESSION

7pm From  the Baluard square

Circuit around town with the authorities, the Saint carried by “Pubilles” and “Hereus” and the folkloric dances and musicians, accompanied by all the Sitgetanas and Sitgetans who wish it. The rector of the parish, Mn. Josep Pausas i Mas will preside over the processional act joined by the Illustrious Town Hall dignataries.

The popular dances, grallers and the Suburband del Retiro will precede the tabernacle. The tabernacle, with the image of the Saint, will be taken by the “Costaleros” of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla. The Flag of Sant Bartomeu shall be carried by the Santa Tecla's Pendonista Carmen Escolano Ávila, who has named as Cordonistes, Rosa Escolano Ávila i Concepción Escolano Ávila

Route: Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, Santiago Rusiñol, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, passeig de la Ribera, Nou, Major, plaça de l’Ajuntament and Baluard. 

As the procession advances along the Paseo de la Ribera, the religous procession will be saluted by firing mortars and the ringing of bells, La Cobla Sitgetana will interpret the sardanas “Els Gegants de Sitges” composed by Tomàs Gil i Membrado and "La Processó de Santa Tecla", composed by Antoni Català i Vidal.

SANTA TECLA RETURNS TO THE PARISH CHURCH 

When the Saint is being returned to the parish church, in the plaza del Baluard in front of the church all the fires and crackers are lit, the dances are carried out to their respective music and a small firework display takes place. It is, in all probability, one of the most emotional and awe inspiring moments of the fiesta. 

Then, inside the temple, closing prayer “Us he mirat Santa Tecla”. 

The public capacity in the Bulevard is limited. For security reasons, in case of reaching the maximum capacity allowed, only those who participate in the procession will be allowed access to the square.

LAST DANCE OF THE “BÈSTIES DE FOC” AND GEGANTS (Beasts of fire and giants)

With the Saint restored to the parish church, the gegants, drac and àliga (papier-mâché giants, dragons and eagle) dance their farewell at Plaça de l'Ajuntament

CONCERTS

11pm on La Fragata beach

With Waikiki, DJ Jordi Sebastian i Dj Arzzett