Description
THE OTHER XIQUETS OF VALLS
Book Summary
This historical essay unveils a little-known reality of the world of "castells": the existence of numerous groups that, during the 19th and 20th centuries, practiced the art of building castells outside of the two traditional Valls groups. Through exhaustive research, the authors document up to 38 towns where local enthusiasts dared to build castells on their own, whether as support for the Valls groups or as independent formations. The work pays special attention to the Xiquets of l'Espluga de Francolí, reconstructing their trajectory, level, and the rootedness of the tradition in the municipality up to the present day.
What is it about?
The book offers a historical review of the casteller phenomenon beyond the traditionally recognized hubs. The authors present a catalog of 38 localities where, at different times, casteller initiatives emerged that complemented or rivaled the groups of Valls. It analyzes how these groups were essential for the Valls groups to achieve their great castles, but also how some evolved to become autonomous groups with a remarkable level of quality. The study focuses in detail on the Xiquets of l'Espluga de Francolí, the least documented group to date, reconstructing its historical trajectory, members, the level achieved, and the process of rooting the tradition in the town.
Main themes
- History of the world of castells beyond the traditional groups of Valls.
- Catalog of 38 towns with their own casteller initiatives during the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Collaborative and dependent relationship between the Valls groups and the local groups.
- Monographic study of the Xiquets of l'Espluga de Francolí: trajectory, level, and members.
- Process of rooting and transmission of the casteller tradition in a specific population.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at scholars and fans of the world of castells interested in the lesser-known history of this tradition. It will also be very useful for local historians, researchers of intangible cultural heritage, and readers from the Alt Camp region who wish to know the role of their towns in the evolution of castells. It is an essential work for those who want to expand their knowledge beyond the major groups and discover the richness of the casteller phenomenon in the territory.
What this book provides
- Exhaustively documents the existence of casteller groups in 38 towns, offering a more complete and diverse vision of the history of castells.
- Reconstructs for the first time the complete trajectory of the Xiquets of l'Espluga de Francolí, one of the least studied groups.
- Analyzes the interdependent relationship between the Valls groups and local initiatives, key to understanding the great casteller achievements of the past.
- Provides concrete data on members, level, and evolution of these groups, facilitating future research.
Technical specifications
- Author: FERRANDO I ROMEU, PERE; TARES I MARTI, JOAN
- Publisher: COSSET·NIA
- Language: cat
- Subject: POPULAR CULTURE
- Collection: L'AIXECADOR
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 2003
- Number of pages: 152
- Weight: 376 g
Editorial review
This is a reference work for scholars of the world of castells, which provides a novel historical perspective by focusing on the lesser-known groups. Its rigorous approach and the detailed reconstruction of the trajectory of the Xiquets of l'Espluga de Francolí make it a valuable documentary source. The book will be especially interesting for those seeking to understand the diversity and complexity of the casteller phenomenon beyond the major groups, as well as for readers linked to the studied populations who wish to know their casteller past.