Patum de Berga

The Patum de Berga (Catalan pronunciation: [pəˈtum də ˈβeɾɣə]), or simply La Patum, is a popular and traditional festival that is celebrated each year in the Catalan city of Berga (Barcelona) during Corpus Christi.

It consists of a series of "dances" (in Catalan, balls) by townspeople dressed as mystical and symbolic figures, and accompanied either by the rhythm of a drum—the tabal, whose sound gives the festival its name—or band music.

In 2005, UNESCO declared it one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and, in 2008, inscribed it on its Representative List.

The festival evolved and incorporated more elements popular and religious theater in the Middle Ages, leading to a unique combination of giants, devils, angels, moors, and other bizarre-looking characters.

Despite the religious significance of Corpus Christi, and the Patum's descent from "eucharistic performances," in its present form it is rather a show of popular theater.