What Are 'Els Castellers' and How Do They Build Human Towers?

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In summary, 'els castellers' is a tradition in Catalonia where people construct towers made of people. It originated in the 18th century and is still practiced by many groups in Catalonia today. Towers can be constructed with varying levels of difficulty and the record is a 10-level tower. The first time this tower was reached was captured in a video that can be watched and enjoyed.
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Redsummers
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Where I was born, in Catalonia, there is this tradition called 'els castellers' (lit. castle men –castells=castle, -ers=ending when writing someone's vocation) where the aim is to construct different kind of towers made of people. Weird yeah, but its origins are from 18th century. Nowadays there are a lot of groups from different parts of Catalonia practicing this tradition. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castell" )

Of course, the bigger the tower is, the better. But there are different kinds of difficulty. There's 'la folre' and 'les manilles' where both are different names to call basis of a tower (les manilles always go in the third level of the tower). And then the tower can be constructed of 1, 2, 3, 4 (even 5) people per level. The maximum level it has been reached was 10. Yeah, a 10-tower level made up of people.

This is the video of the first time this tower was reached:




Sit back and enjoy! It's always amusing to see this tradition for the first time, even if it's not in live.

P.S: I fail at linking youtube vids: sorry... tried the embed thing but didn't work.
 
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  • #2
Ah, to post a video...you copy the code after the = sign in the Youtube address (in this case it's 6IZ7CaGNI6w). Click on the TV icon and paste the code between the YOUTUBE tags. So it would look like this, without the * :

[*YOUTUBE]6IZ7CaGNI6w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IZ7CaGNI6w
 
  • #3
That's basically terrifying to watch, btw! :smile:
 

FAQ: What Are 'Els Castellers' and How Do They Build Human Towers?

What are Els Castellers?

Els Castellers are a traditional form of human tower building that originated in Catalonia, Spain. It is a cultural and sporting event that involves people of all ages working together to create impressive and intricate human towers.

How are Els Castellers performed?

Els Castellers are performed by building a base of people, called the pinya, followed by tiers of people standing on each other's shoulders, called the tronc. The tower is then topped off by a small child, called the enxaneta, climbing to the top. The tower is completed when the enxaneta raises their hand, signaling success.

What is the history of Els Castellers?

The origins of Els Castellers can be traced back to the 18th century in Catalonia, Spain. It was originally used as a way to celebrate and honor the patron saint of Catalonia, Saint Mary. Over the years, it has become a popular tradition and a symbol of Catalan identity.

Are there any risks or dangers involved in Els Castellers?

While Els Castellers can be physically demanding and require a lot of strength and coordination, there are safety measures in place to minimize risks. Each team has trained members who act as a support system and there are strict guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety of all participants.

Where can I see Els Castellers?

Els Castellers is primarily performed in Catalonia, Spain but has gained popularity and can now be seen at various festivals and events around the world. Some popular events to see Els Castellers include the Tarragona Human Tower Competition and the Barcelona City Festival, both held annually in Catalonia.

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