Culture Corner

My mom was born in Barcelona and raised in Catalonia, so I grew up appreciating many

beautiful Catalan traditions. One of my favorite Catalan traditions is watching ‘Els Castells’ (“the

Human Tower”), sometimes going up to 10+ levels, and it is an important part of many annual

festivities throughout Catalan towns and cities! This particular mural was in the Catalan region of

Penedès, where the “Castellers de Vilafranca” perform. Not only does this tradition take physical

teamwork and incredible coordination among the team (who are typically made up of families that

have passed down this tradition for generations), but it also showcases what happens when we all

come together for a common goal – unified, we can reach incredible heights, and I love to see a part

of our Catalan culture remaining alive for the world to see!

My mom was born in Barcelona and raised in Catalonia, so I grew up appreciating manybeautiful Catalan traditions. One of my favorite Catalan traditions is watching ‘Els Castells’ (“theHuman Tower”), sometimes going up to 10+ levels, and it is an important part of many annualfestivities throughout Catalan towns and cities! This particular mural was in the Catalan region ofPenedès, where the “Castellers de Vilafranca” perform. Not only does this tradition take physicalteamwork and incredible coordination among the team (who are typically made up of families thathave passed down this tradition for generations), but it also showcases what happens when we allcome together for a common goal – unified, we can reach incredible heights, and I love to see a partof our Catalan culture remaining alive for the world to see!

Submitted by Angelina Sapienza, University of Florida