During the first weekend of October of even years (2006, 2008 etc), Tarragona bullring holds one of the most bizarre spectacles to be found in Spain, the ‘Concurso de Castells’, the human castles competition. Every year there are serious injuries as these towers topple to the ground, the worst of which led to the death of a twelve-year-old girl earlier this month in Capgrossos de Mataró (Barcelona), when she fell from the top of a nine-story castle.
HF
11 Aug 06 at 5:56 pm
The Guardian covered the Mataró story
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1838759,00.html
Mary Black
11 Oct 06 at 3:36 pm
wow i wish i could be part of that human castle!!
heeheee
Mary Black
11 Oct 06 at 3:37 pm
i hope if im in the human caslte i dont die!!yikes .. heehee
Mark
9 Mar 07 at 5:04 pm
In the States, this kind of celebration/custom, would never happen for fear of lawsuits. In fact, 99% of the celebrations and customs in Spain would be outlawed (in the so-called land of liberties) for fear of lawsuits. Events like Los Sanfermines, La tomatina, Las fallas, lo de Coria, etc.
In Spain and in other countries in Europe, my impression is that the attitude is, “Too bad that person got hurt. They really should have been more careful…”
Anyway, ‘Concurso de Castells’ kind of reminds me of Pamplona where people dive of one of the monuments in to the hands of the crowd below- I can’t remember what this was called.
Mark
Grand Haven, MI
Ben
9 Mar 07 at 6:21 pm
The UK is the same, it would never be allowed there either for the same reasons…
catalan
22 Apr 08 at 1:06 pm
CATALONIA IS NOT SPAIN!! FREEDOM FOR CATALAN COUNTIRES!!
Ben
22 Apr 08 at 1:17 pm
Oh brother, here we go again…