Corpus Christi Festival Flower Carpet Competition, The Annual Floral Carpet Competition

Corpus Christi Festival Flower Carpet Competition

The Annual Floral Carpet Competition

The Corpus Christi Festival Flower Carpet Competition is a relatively recent annual event that has proved extremely popular with residents and tourists alike. Sitges, in common with much of Spain has many festivals based around the Old Catholic calendar. In the rest of Europe, these medieval observations faded after the Reformation of the 16th century, but in staunch Catholic strongholds like Spain, they continue to survive and indeed flourish.

The exhibitions of carnations and bonsai trees, along with the floral facade decorative competition form the secular leg of the events, along with a famous ‘dancing egg’ exhibit at the Palau Market.

Apart from this, there is a very Spanish procession of the Holy Sacrament, culminating in an offering of flowers to Our Lady of Vinyet. Floral carpets are made during the celebrations, from red, white, red and yellow carnations, over a quarter of a million in all. These are laid out on a grass bed with various other pieces of plant material, with each street in Sitges holding its own competition and some financial help from the Council. The winning carpet each year is displayed in the Cap de la Vila Square and is used in the culminating act of worship which finishes the festival.

During this time visitors to Sitges can purchase local crafts, which make a perfect for family and friends. The National Carnation Competition is held in the same week, a non-competitive event begun in 1918, and the event has been held every year since then. Today, it takes place in the gardens of the Hort de can Falc. The prestige lies in taking part rather than winning anything.

Sitges clearly has a passion for flowers in all shapes and varieties, and you can participate in the annual explosion of colour from your base in Sitges.