The old parish of Sant Gervasi de Cassoles is the original nucleus of today's neighbourhood, which also includes the Bonanova and Galvany housing estates. It owes its name to a small tenth-century church dedicated to Sant Gervasi, which was the nerve centre of a little group of farmhouses. It depended on the parish of Sarrià until it became a town in 1714 and, like many other city neighbourhoods, it was incorporated into Barcelona in 1897. When the bourgeoisie discovered it in the 19th century, they had villas and summer houses built there.

The festa major is held around the feast day of Sant Gervasi and Sant Protasi, on 19 June. The festival committee organises all kinds of events, including communal meals, concerts and a variety of activities for children and teenagers. Popular culture is present in the shape of the correfoc, revived a few years ago, and sardana dancing at midday on the main day of the festival.

Reason

The two saints, Gervasi and Protasi, are twins martyred in the second century. They came from Milan and were tortured to death in one of the many acts of persecution the Roman Empire waged against Christians.

The origins of the Sant Gervasi neighbourhood can be found in a tenth-century chapel dedicated to both saints, which later became a parish chapel and gave its name to the neighbourhood. Today the Bonanova Church is built over it and in the 18th century worship of the twin saints was replaced by worship of the Virgin, the Mare de Déu dels Afortunats. Despite that, Sant Gervasi and Sant Protasi are still the patron saints of the festa major.

Origins

The festa major, as we understand it today, has been celebrated since the early 1930s.