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Badalona's dimoni, 2006. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
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The burning of Badalona's dimoni, 2006. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
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Badalona's dimoni, 2008. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
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Badalona's dimoni, 2009. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
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Badalona's dimoni, 2010. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
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Badalona's dimoni, 2012. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
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Badalona's dimoni, 2014. Photo by Carquinyol (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
The Festes de Maig are to Badalona what La Mercè is to Barcelona. Commemorating Badalona’s patron saint, Sant Anastasi, a Roman soldier born in Lleida, who was martyred in Badalona during the fourth century for converting to Christianity, and featuring correfocs, castelleres, parades featuring the city's gegants, concerts, fireworks, children’s activities and more. The highlight of the month-long festivities is La Cremada del Dimoni (the burning of the devil) on the night of May 10th.
Far from anything Machiavellian or satanic, the tradition is rooted in an ancient legend, passed down through generations as a time to burn away any lingering evil spirits. The night begins with the ball de l’Àliga (dance of the eagle), in which the eagle represents all the citizens of the town. The large bird of prey does its majestic dance accompanied by la Banda Simfònica de Badalona and a small procession, making its way from the city council building down Carrer de Mar to Passeig de la Rambla, where it performs a final dance near the demon set up on the beach. This spectacle is followed by fireworks and the burning of the dimoni.
The winning dimoni design for 2023 is titled "Sense fum!" by Àgata Gil.
The Winning Devil
The design for the emblematic demon is chosen from hundreds of submissions by a panel of political representatives and people from the world of culture, art and design. The winning design usually alludes to current affairs, whether local or beyond Badalona’s borders. In 2017, the dimoni took the guise of the Statue of Liberty, standing 16-metres-high and referencing the refugee crisis, as well as the NGO Open Arms, which was founded in Badalona in 2015 and is devoted to search and rescue at sea. The figure had a wall around its base, preventing a ship from docking on its shore. A complex work costing €27,000, it was turned to ash to the delight of the entire city like every other year.
This year, the winning design is by Àgata Gil. Titled "Sense fum!," Gil's design depicts a geometric demon enveloped by numerous vehicles set aflame. This year, Badalona will be a low emissions zone in compliance with EU regulations and, according to Gil the design can have two interpretations: "an angry demon with the measure sending more cars to the city or a devil taking the cars that do not comply with the new regulations.”
If you’re curious about older designs for the dimoni, images of all the previous demons, dating back to 1940, line the walls of the Badalona Pompeu Fabra metro station.
The correfoc is an important part of the Festes de Maig. Photo by mmercevf (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr.
Bringing People Together
The ambience of the event is one of the biggest draws. David Carrasco, CMO of Unancor Marketing in Badalona, believes that the longevity of the tradition and its popularity today is due to its ability to connect people from near and far. “The Festes de Maig are the perfect excuse to enjoy all Badalona has to offer in an exuberant setting, from strolling beneath the palm trees along La Rambla to taking in a concert by a local band.” Carrasco also recommends having dinner in town, although finding an open table can be a bit of a struggle.
Eli, 34, from Badalona, said, “For me, La Cremada del Dimoni is an unquestioned tradition. My grandparents live on La Rambla, so they’ve always invited friends and family over to their place for the night. Depending on how well-maintained the palm trees are that year, we may or may not be able to see the dimoni down on the beach, but it’s still nice to watch the celebrations slightly removed from the crowds.”
Between 50,000 and 70,000 people flock to the beach in Badalona for La Cremada del Dimoni, so get there early to secure your spot on the sand and if you want to go out to dinner in the city, make reservations in advance.
Published May 1 2018, updated April 27, 2023.