Corpus Sitges 2023
9th – 18th June, 2023
Sitges Corpus Christi has been declared a Heritage Festival of National Interest in May 2023.This declaration is the highest recognition granted by the Catalan government, the Generalitat de Catalunya. The Sitges Corpus Christi is a heritage and festive element of extraordinary relevance with a remote origin and a history of at least 100 years of uninterrupted celebration. It is an identity and festive reference at national level.
CORPUS SITGES 2023 – PROGRAMA
From the 9th to 18th June, Sitges will once again be imbued with the essence of one of the most
emblematic festivities of its traditional and cultural calendar.
The author of the 2023 Sitges Corpus poster is local resident Jordi Abellan. His main source of inspiration for the poster is his family. For him, the celebration of Corpus Christi has a strong family component that has been passed down from generation to generation. For this reason, the central composition of the poster consists of three carnations symbolising the members of the same family, intertwined and united.
The Flag Bearer of Sitges Corpus 2023 is Joan Ortiz Oliver. Joan is closely linked to the Corpus Christi Festival as a carnation exhibitor, member of several Corpus Christi Commissions, he collaborates painting the design for the flower carpet on Calle Jesús. This year the Corpus Christi Commission has designated him as the bearer of the Minerva Brotherhood’s banner.
Mireia Rossell Pascual is the announcer (Pregonera) of the Sitges Corpus 2023
The Gegants Vells de la Vila are in charge of making the carpet and the altar at Cap de la Vila within the program of its 125th anniversary.
On Sunday 11 June 2023, flower carpets decorate streets and courtyards and the traditional “ou com balla” can be enjoyed (egg dancing on a spout of water).
The Corpus of Sitges is a festival with six centuries of history and a high level of popular participation, this year creating 31 flower carpets on the streets of Sitges and the subsequent passage of the Procession.
Corpus en Sitges – “L’Ou com Balla” (egg dancing on a spout of water)
Sunday 11th June 10:00h-14:00h
Location: Palau Maricel. Museus de Sitges. Racó de la Calma
Corpus en Sitges 2023 – Decoration of patios and other spaces
During the Corpus celebration, many patios and other spaces are decorated.
The streets are hung with banners, and from the 1st June, banners can be bought at 15€ to decorate balconies and windows. Kindly refer to the points of sale indicated at the beginning of this programme.
- El Pati Blau. 10th &11th June. Calle Àngel Vidal s/n. Decoration and design by Alpe Conceptes.
- Racó de la Calma. 11th June. Calle Fonollar. Decorated with flowers and paintings by children and Museos de Sitges.
- Fundació Ave Maria. 11th June. Calle Artur Carbonell 11. Decorated by handicapped participants.
- Hospital de Sant Joan Baptista. 11th June. Calle Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer.
- Residencia Les Magnòlies. 11th June. Avinguda Camí dels Capellans, 9.
- Port d’Aiguadolç.10th &11th June. Floral decoration in the Marina of Aiguadolç
CORPUS DE SITGES 2023 PROGRAMME
9th – 18th June, 2023
From Thursday, the CORPUS BANNERS can be purchased for 15€ at the following shops: Ferran Base, Calle Jesús, 22. Mercería Requena, Calle Àngel Vidal, 40. Mil Estels, Calle Sant Josep, 16 and Peluquería Ojeda, Calle de l’Estalvi, 7.
Tuesday 30th May
19:30h PRESENTATION-CORPUS 2023
Location: Mercat Vell (old market near the Town Hall)
Presentation of the programme, poster of the festival and the main protagonists.
With the collaboration of Sitges Municipal Market stallholders’ association.
Wednesday 31st May (until 18th June)
TREASURE HUNT: THE TREAUSURE OF CORPUS
All children from 1st to 6th grade of primary school in Sitges will receive a map to follow the clues and discover the Corpus treasure. This activity is free and can be carried out until the18th of June. Also designed for adults and especially for families, “maps” can be picked up at the Tourism Office and at the two Sitges public libraries.
Friday 2nd June
18:30h INAUGURATION OF THE COMMEMORATIVE MURAL “CORPUS, HERITAGE FESTIVAL OF NATIONAL INTEREST”.
Location: Plaza Cataluña.
Inauguration of the mural created by artist Berok to commemorate the declaration of the Sitges Corpus Christi as a Heritage Festival of National Interest. Popular snack, children’s activity and a striking surprise.
Saturday 3rd June
19:00h SITGES CORPUS GASTRONOMIC DAY 2023
Location: Mercat Vell (old market near the Town Hall)
An exceptional gastronomic day with the participation of the chef Oriol Castro of Disfrutar restaurant, who will prepare a recipe for the occasion. He will be accompanied by Annette Abstoss, who will give a workshop on edible flowers, and Patricia Schmidt, who will give a demonstration of decorative sugar flowers and Carles Bonnin will explain how he has designed and distilled what will be the Corpus Gin, made from carnations.
Location: Mercat Vell. Town Hall Square
Organised by: the Corpus Commission with the collaboration of the Sitgetans Studies Group and Turisme de Sitges.
Friday 9th June
22:00h PREGÓ DEL CLAVELL (Carnation Proclamation) AND OPENING OF THE 83rd NATIONAL CARNATION EXHIBITION
Location: Jardines de la Societat Recreativa el Retiro. (Gardens of El Retiro).
By Mireia Rossell Pascual, announcer of the Sitges Corpus 2023
Official opening ceremony of the Corpus Christi festivities.
Saturday 10th June
DECORATION OF THE PATI BLAU
Location: Calle Àngel Vidal
On Saturday morning. Decoration and design by Alpe Conceptes.
10:30h OPENING OF THE 83rd NATIONAL CARNATION EXHIBITION
Location: Jardins de la Societat Recreativa El Retiro. (Gardens of El Retiro).
11:30h a 13h WORKSHOP FOR KIDS
Location: Patio of Palacio de Maricel
Clay flower pot painting and filling them with flowers to accompany “Nena de la clavellina”.
Free activity.
16:30h GIANTS´ FLORAL DISPLAY
Do you want to see how the giantess’s bouquet is made? For children of all ages.
Location: Flowershop Floristeria Mirabent, Carrer Sant Francesc 27
18:00h PROCESSION OF THE THREE COUPLES OF SITGES’ PAPIER MÂCHÉ GIANTS
Gegants de la Vila, Gegants Moros y Gegants “Americanos”.
Route: Plaça de l’Ajuntament, Baluard, Calle Fonollar, Baluard Vidal i Quadras, calle Barcelona, Calle Santiago Rusiñol, Calle Jesús, Cap de la Vila, Calle Parellades, Calle Sant Josep, Calle Sant Gaudenci, Calle Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Calle Major y Plaça de l’Ajuntament.
19:30 EVENING MASS ON THE EVE OF VESPERS
After the celebration, transfer and solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in its chapel. Prayer vigil at the Eucharist.
Location: Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla
22:00h FLOWERS, TRADITION AND FIESTA, GUIDED TOUR OF THE CARPETS AND OTHER SINGULAR CORPUS LOCATIONS
Run by AGIS Sitges Guides. After the visit, there is the possibility of participating in the making of a carpet of flowers.
Departure from the door of the gardens of the Societat Recreativa el Retiro along Carrer Àngel Vidal.
From 22:00h PREPARATION OF THE FLOWERS AND DRAWING OF THE CARPETS
The artists of each carpet paint the carpet design on the ground. At the same time flowers are cut and prepared to make the carpet. Participation is open to everyone.
From 22:00h onwards.
Sunday 11th June
CREATION OF FLOWER CARPETS ON THE STREETS OF SITGES
From early morning until midday.
Participation open to all.
09:00h – 11:00h – 12:00h SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)
Masses on the day of Corpus Christi.
After the 9 o’clock Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and transferred to its chapel where it will remain exposed until after midday Mass.
10:00h to 14:00h EXHIBITION OF“L’OU COM BALLA” AT PALAU MARICEL
Free admission to Palau Maricel to see the egg dancing on the spout.
Location: Palau Maricel
12:00h CHOCOLATE DRINK AND KIDS ENTERTAINMENT: SUPER BUBBLES
Location: Hort de Can Falç
For all children who have participated in the creation of flower carpets. Super Bubbles, giant soap bubbles.
19h SOLEMN CONCELEBRATED MASS
Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla
Following Mass…
PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Route: Plaça del Baluard, Mirador Miquel Utrillo, Racó de la Calma, calle Fonollar, calle Sant Joan, calle Davallada, calle Barcelona, calle Santiago Rusiñol, calle Jesús, Cap de la Vila, calle Parellades, calle Bonaire, Passeig de la Ribera, calle Sant Pau, calle Parellades, Cap de la Vila, calle Major, Plaça de l’Ajuntament and Plaça del Baluard.
Corpus Christi Procession, order of service:
Popular and Traditional Procession
01. Gegants de la Vila, 02. Escola de Grallers de Sitges, 03. Gegants Moros, 05.Grallers Marcets de Sitges, 06.El Drac, 07. L’Àliga, 08.La Moixiganga, 09.Escola de Grallers de Sitges
Religious Followers:
10. The Cross, 11. First Communion children, 12. Parishioners, 13. Pubilles and Hereus of the entities and the different neighbourhoods of Sitges, The banner of the Confraternity of the Minerva, Banner bearer Joan Comas, 15. Acolytes, 16. Celebrants and Concelebrants, 17. Tabernacle with the Monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament under the Thalamus, 18. Guardia Urbana in gala dress, 19. Relays of the Tabernacle and the Thalamus, 20. Band, Cobla Sitgestana.
FINAL DANCE AND REFRESHMENT
After the procession, the 4 pairs of giants will accompany the authorities to the Town Hall for the traditional final dance in the square.
To be followed by the traditional “Refresco de Corpus” offered by the Sitges Town Hall and open to everyone.
Saturday 17th June
11:00h VISIT OF THE JURY TO JUDGE FAÇADES, BALCONIES AND WINDOWS
The jury, accompanied to the music by the Apocadixie Cotton Pickers, will visit the façades, balconies and windows in the streets of the centre of Sitges for their evaluation.
19:00h INAUGURATION OF THE EXHIBITION OF THE 7th CORPUS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION ON INSTAGRAM
Location: Janio`s Bar, Cap de la Vila nº 3.
From this day on, you will be able to taste the exclusive Corpus Gin Tònic, with a gin distilled from carnations.
EXHIBITION DATES From 17th June to 3rd July. Prize-giving ceremony at the official closing ceremony.
Sunday 18th June
19:30h OFFICIAL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AND CLOSING CEREMONY OF CORPUS 2023.
Location: Gardens of the Societat Recreativa el Retiro.
After the closing ceremony, gathering at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Vinyet, to make the traditional collective offering of carnations to the Virgin. The “train” will take us to the Vinyet, while Apocadixie plays live music.
FLOWER CARPETS
The carpets are arranged in the order of the procession.
1. Creu Roja de Sitges (Red Cross headquarters) – Plaça del Baluard
2. Penya Barcelonista de Sitges – Mirador Miquel Utrillo
3. Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges – Racó de la Calma
4. Port de Sitges Aiguadolç – Carrer Sant Joan
5. Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges – Carrer Davallada
6. Green Apple – Carrer Barcelona
7. Veïns del Carrer Santiago Rusiñol – Carrer Santiago Rusiñol
8. Escola Esteve Barrachina – 5è Tram Carrer Jesús
9. Casino Prado Suburense – 4t Tram Carrer Jesús
10. Miquel Marzal -3r Tram Carrer Jesús
11. Camil Roca -2n Tram Carrer Jesús
12. Maria Sáez -1r Tram Carrer Jesús
13. Colla dels Gegants de la Vila – Cap de la Vila
14. Escola Pia de Sitges – 1r Tram Carrer Parellades
15. Escola Maria Ossó – 2n Tram Carrer Parellades
16. Escola Agnès de Sitges – 3r Tram Carrer Parellades
17. Veïns del Carrer Bonaire – Carrer Bonaire
18. Club de Mar de Sitges – 1r Tram Passeig de la Ribera
19. Colors Sitges Link – 2n Tram Passeig de la Ribera
20. Pini Ladies – 3r Tram Passeig de la Ribera
21. Veïns del Carrer Sant Pau – Richmond International School – Carrer Sant Pau
22. Ariadna Font-Rosa Junyent – 1r Tram Carrer Major
23. Òmnium Garraf – 2n Tram Carrer Major
24. De Serps i Balcons – 3r Tram Carrer Major
25. Rosa Peris – 4t Tram Carrer Major
26. Amics del Carrer de l’Aigua – 5è Tram Carrer Major
27. Foment de Sitges – 6è Tram Carrer Major
28. IES Vinyet – 7è Tram Carrer Major
29. Institut Joan Ramon Benaprès – 8è Tram Carrer Major
30. Escola Miquel Utrillo – Plaça de l’Ajuntament
