Castell
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A castell is a human tower traditionally built during festivals in many places in Catalonia, Spain. At these festivals, several colles castelleres (teams) meet and try to build the most impressive towers they can.
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[edit] Origin
This tradition originated in Valls, near the city of Tarragona (in the southern part of Catalonia) at the end of the 18th century. The tradition later spread to other regions of Catalonia and even Majorca, and has become very popular. However, the best and most skilled castellers are still found near Tarragona.
[edit] The Castell
In Catalan the word castell means castle.
A castell is considered a success when it is properly assembled and dismantled, that is, when everyone has climbed into place, the enxaneta (the last one) climbs up to the top, raises one hand (with four fingers erect, said to symbolize the stripes of the Catalan flag), climbs down the other side of the castell, and then everyone else comes down safely.
Besides the people who actually climb, many are also needed to form the pinya (the base of the castell). They help sustain the weight and act as a sort of safety net.
The castell is built in two phases: in the first phase, the pinya is formed, as well as the base of the tower. All the people from the upper layers get to a position from which they can easily get to their place in the tower. This is done carefully and slowly, and when completed, the castellers judge whether the base is stable enough to continue. Once the go-ahead is given, the band start to play the traditional music, the crowd is silenced, and the upper layers of the tower are built as quick as possible to avoid overstraining the lower castellers. Breaking up the tower is done under the clapping and cheering of the crowd and is often the most risky part of the entire process.
[edit] Attire
Typical clothing consists of white trousers, a black sash, a bandana and a coloured shirt often bearing the team's emblem, but the colour of the shirt itself is also an indication of the team. For instance, the Castellers de Barcelona wear a red shirt, the Castellers de Vilafranca a green one, etc.
The sash is the most important part of their outfit, since it supports the lower back and is very useful to other castellers as a foothold or handhold when climbing up the tower. This piece of cloth varies in length and width depending on the casteller's position inside the tower and also on personal taste. Its length can range from 1.5 to 8 meters, and it is usually shorter for those higher up in the castell.Performing castellers usually go barefoot so that they do not hurt each other as they climb and so that they have more sensitivity in their feet.
The castellers arrange themselves into a multi-tiered structure or tower, sometimes as high as nine or ten people. A young child known as the enxaneta then climbs to the top of the tower. Accidents are unusual during the construction of a castell. However, they do occur, and on August 6, 2006, in Mataró a young casteller fell off the castell she was forming and died. Before this, the last fatal accident was in 1981 in Torredembarra.
Castellers have a motto: "Força, equilibri, valor i seny" (Strength, balance, courage and reason).
- Strength: A casteller is usually a stocky person. The first castellers were peasants who were accustomed to holding great weights and much physical exertion.
- Balance: To support those above you in the castell while relying on those below you for support requires a strong sense of balance and trust in others.
- Courage: The most important characteristic for castellers, especially among the young children that form the highest levels.
- Reason: In planning, rehearsal and performance requires a great deal of planning and reason. Any error can make the structure fall down.
[edit] Types of Castell
Castells are described by number of people who make up each of the levels, as well as the number of levels. The number of levels can be up to 10. The number of people per level varies between 1 and 5, where towers with only 1 person per level are referred to as pillars (pillars), and with 2 people as torres (towers). In towers of 3 or 4, each layer is formed as a ring, with larger layers, the layers consist of several rings.
Apart from the basic name of the tower, the tower is commonly denominated by its features: whether it is supported by a support rows (folre and/or manilles), and whether there is an agulla inside the tower. In the image, a 4 de 9 amb folre (4 of 9 with cover) is depicted (by the Castellers de Barcelona), because there are four people making up most of the levels, the tower is nine levels high, and the tower is supported by a folre, the first visible layer in the picture resting on the bulk below them.
The kind of towers considering the number of people per level are basically:
- Pilar de… : one person per level.
- Torre de… : two people per level.
- Tres de… : three people per level.
- Quatre de… : four people per level.
- Cinc de… : five people per level.
- Quatre de… amb l’agulla: four people per level with a pilar several levels high enclosed within the main tower.
The number of levels in the most commonly built human towers are:
- Sis : six levels high.
- Set : seven levels high.
- Vuit : eight levels high.
- Nou : nine levels high.
- Deu : ten levels high.
When the towers are very, very high and/or have a small number of people on each level, they normally need extra support from the base or bottom levels. Frequently, the names of the bases are also included in the name of the tower. The three bases typically used in human tower constructions are:
- Pinya : normal ground-level base, often composed of several hundred people. All towers have this, and it is never mentioned in the name.
- Folre : a second base built on top of the first one (Pinya). It is always mentioned, when used.
- Manilles : a third base built on top of the second one (Folre). It is always mentioned, when used.
[edit] Achievement of a human tower
Towers can be totally or partially completed. The successful building and dismantling of a tower is indicated using the following terms:
- Descarregat : the tower has reached the top and has been successfully dismantled.
- Carregat : the tower has reached the top but it has collapsed during dismantling.
- Intent : failed attempt.
[edit] Terminology
- pinya (bulk): The densely arranged crowd of castellers at the base of the tower. Here is where most of the people are. Its function is to sustain the second level, lighten the weight on those who form the foundation and to soften the impact of anyone falling.
- enxaneta (rider) : The topmost child.
- aixecador (riser): The person sustaining the enxaneta.
- dosos (seconds): The level sustaining the aixecador.
- pom de dalt (top bunch): The top three levels of the castell: dosos, aixecador, and enxaneta.
- folre (cover): A group of people standing on the pinya and sustaining the third level.
- manilles (cover): A group of people standing on the folre and sustaining the fourth level.
- agulla (needle) : A tower with one person per level (pilar) inside the castell. When the castell is being dismantled, the agulla must remain standing until the outside part of the castell is already down.
- cap de colla (leader): The head of each team, who decides which castells the team is ready to try, and acts as a director for the construction of the castells from the ground. He is always accompanied by many assistants and advisers.
[edit] Exemples
- Pilar de sis: one person per level in a six-level tower. If nothing else is mentioned, it is understood that the tower has the first base (pinya) (always) and it has been successfully dismantled (descarregat).
- Torre de set: two people per level in a seven-level tower.
- Cinc de nou amb folre: five people per level in a nine-level tower with a second base (folre) built on top of the first base (pinya).
- Quatre de vuit amb l’agulla: four people per level in an eight-level tower with a six-level pillar inside (agulla).
- Tres de deu amb folre i manilles: three people per level in a ten-level tower with a second base (folre) and a third one (manilles).
There are other names used for every specific position within the towers, but these are not shown or used in this article. The information provided here gives a comprehensive overview of the most common terminology and creates a framework for a better understanding of human towers and related activities.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Human towers forum
- Castellers de Vilafranca
- Castellers de Barcelona (English language)
- spanien-katalonien site with photographs and video of castell construction
- Information about Castells (English language)
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