* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia
The Patum is not just a party, but for the people of Berga it is a feeling. It is also heard that the berguedans who are outside, for Corpus, notice the sound of the Tabal wherever they are.
I have titled this photograph for Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia Capturing the Patum, an image that shows a photograph of the moment of photographing the party.
The Tabal is not considered a proper Patum comparsa, since it is the herald of the festival and the initial instrument of the festive representation.
The Patum de Lluïment is the “gala”, calm. All the comparsas except the Plens (they only come out at night) are summoned and go out to do their dance only once each and consecutively.
When this round ends, and all the comparsas have done their performance, the tirabols begin where the two guites and the two pairs of giants share the square while everyone moves to the sound of the music performed by the Cobla Ciutat de Berga .
In November 2005, the Patum was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The objective of this declaration is to recognize and protect oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social uses, rituals and festive events, knowledge and uses related to nature and the universe, and traditional craft techniques.