What’s the origin of the ‘Taronjada’?
The earliest record of Carnestoltes dates back to the Roman Empire, but when were Carnival celebrations first documented in Barcelona? How has it evolved? The earliest documents indicating celebrations with costumes and masks in the city date back to the 14th century. Here we offer a trip back in time to trace how the revelry of Carnestoltes has been celebrated in the city over the centuries.
The ‘Taronjada’ orange battle
The earliest references to Carnival celebrations in Barcelona date back to the 14th century. They are strongly linked to oranges and explain why the ‘Taronjada’ orange battle is today the central act for Carnival.
According to the folklorist Joan Amades, an order from the city’s ruling Consell de Cent prohibited, among other things, the use of masks or parading through the city in costumes. In protest at the prohibitions dictated by the Consell de Cent, people in the city threw or launched oranges, sawdust and rotten eggs at the authorities.
Orange pelting ended up being punishable by 30 days of detention and a fine.
Festivities by everyday people and the aristocracy
Provided there wasn’t some regulation or other or religious matter prohibiting it, the revelry and transgression of Carnival began after Christmas and ended in the middle of February. From the mid-17th century there’s evidence of the use of dummies to parody illustrious figures and monarchs crowned as King Carnestoltes. Everybody took part in these theatrics, rich and poor, old and young, with costumes and masks, in the streets and at private parties.
In the 17th century, popular Carnival festivities were held in Carrer de la Palla and around Plaça Nova and Plaça del Pi.
Upper class society organised a more stately and lordly celebration in the richest and liveliest neighbourhood of the city: El Born. In the days beforehand, the aristocracy made their way around the streets, noble houses and palaces to accommodate the royal entourage. The ‘Arribo’ didn’t herald the arrival of Queen Belluga, but rather Queen Catai. The entourage passed through Pla d’en Llull, now the site of El Born CCM, along Carrer de la Pescateria, into Canvis Vells and out into Plaça Major, now Passeig del Born.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the saraus and parades were transferred to La Rambla. As the avenue fell outside the city walls there was enough space for a parade with floats and carriages with figures from Barcelona’s high society.
Mask dances in the 19th century
The 19th century saw the start of the famous mask dances that were organised between January and February. As these were held inside establishments and theatres, they weren’t subject to as many prohibitions as festivities in the streets. Where did the bourgeoisie go to dance? To the Teatre Principal, the Llotja de Mar and later El Liceu and other artistic circles in the city. The Teatre Principal was the most typical. Admission cost 5 pesetas at that time, equivalent to around 100 euros today.
La Patacada
From 1817, at Carrer de les Tàpies, 6, between the cultivation plots of Sant Pau del Campa and the streets of Estrella and Nou de la Rambla, there were some textile units which would be transformed to host more working-class mask dances on festive days. These were three industrial textile units under a well-known name: Antoni Nadal i Derrer. Admission cost one peseta, equivalent to around 20 euros today. The units were known as La Patacada, reflecting how dancers’ customary greeting would be to slap each other on the back.
