Despite the most commonly associated number with the legend of St Eulalia being 13 (she was 13 when she died, she was subject to 13 tortures and there are 13 geese dedicated to her at la Cathedral), the life and miracles of St Eulalia are told in a total of three different ways. During the annual winter festival, three popular culture associations tell the story of the city’s young patron, who was brutally tortured in the 4th century after standing up to the Roman authorities for persecuting Christians. Two folk-dance groups, Esbart Santa Eulàlia and Esbart Ciutat Comtal, depict the legend through dance and the Joan Amades Cultural Association offers a tour of all the places in Barcelona linked to the saint’s life.

Santa Eulalia Route. Saturday 11 al 5.30 and 6 pm, and Sunday 12 at 10.30 and 11 am, departing from the Fossar de les Moreres. Free. You must sign up in advance here.

One of the most important parts of the legend of St Eulalia is that the events occurred in places that are still recognisable today: the esplanade outside Sarrià, Plaça del Padró, Pla de la Boqueria, Plaça de l’Àngel, Baixada de Santa Eulàlia, etc. Since Joan Amades was one of the first folklorists to recount the popular legend, the Joan Amades Cultural Association has been organising a night guided tour for several years. Accompanied by live music, this tour takes in all the spots in Barcelona related to the story of the saint, including where she was tortured, the prison where she was locked up, etc.

The dance of Santa Eulalia with Esbart Santa Eulàlia. Saturday 11 at 5 pm on Avinguda de la Catedral

The Esbart Santa Eulàlia offers a modern take on the dance of Santa Eulàlia at Plaça Sant Jaume. Since the beginning of the 1990s, this folk-dance group from the Raval neighbourhood has spared no efforts in restoring dances and traditional customs. The most notable example is this dance, a choreography based on a score documented by folklorist Joan Amades in his book of ethnography “Costumari Català”. The dance uses plastic figures to represent some of the torments suffered by the saint, similar to the mummery in the Passion of Christ.

Eulàlia, a dance show at the cathedral. Saturday February 11 at 9 pm and Sunday February 12 at 4.45 pm Barcelona Cathedral

The Esbart Ciutat Comtal presents ‘Eulàlia’, a dance musical performed inside the Barcelona Cathedral, above the crypt holding the sepulchre containing the saint’s remains. The show pays homage to the saint and praises the values of freedom, equality and justice. Directed by the choreographer Lluís Calduch and with music from the composer Francesc Cassú, ‘Eulàlia’ recreates the saint’s life, from the moment she professes her faith to her crucifixion and including all her acts of martyrdom, with dance sequences, gestural tableaux and compositions with choreographed movements based on various folk and religious sources.