Hèsta deth Tarò

The festival of the "Tarò" of Arties is a unique celebration that takes place in Arties every June 23rd. What did you think, that the Aran Valley can only be visited in winter? Arties is also a marvel in summer. Pleasant temperatures, zero overcrowding, overflowing greenery, outdoor plans ... And in addition, some very colorful festivities among which stands out, of course, the "Tarò" of Arties. Technically, the preparation of the celebration begins about a month before, with the felling of the tree. During the night of June 23, the villagers walk the trunk through all the streets of the village, ending the tour in the Town Hall square. What is the "Taro" of Arties? As you may have guessed, this celebration is closely related to the pagan rites associated with the night of San Juan and, as in many other places in Spain, it kicks off the summer tourist season in the Aran Valley. The Crèma deth Tarò de Arties is part of the so-called Fallas del Pirineo, which were declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 2015. The Fallas of the Pyrenees encompass all the summer solstice festivities that occur in different towns of the Catalan, Aragonese, French and Andorran Pyrenees. The "Taro" of Arties consists of the burning of the trunk of a fir tree -which can measure up to 8 meters-. This fir tree is cut down a month before the celebration of the festival, and during this period it is prepared for the burning. When the day arrives, the trunk is set on fire and dragged through the streets and squares of Arties. The music and the shouts of the attendees, who jump over the flames, accompany the trunk during the whole journey. By the way, for some years now, when arriving at Ortau square, a smaller trunk is lit so that the little ones can also enjoy the party. And in complete safety. The ritual ends in the wee hours of the morning in front of the mayor's house, where a battle of water, cava and gasoil takes place. Tradition says that the ashes of the "Taro" have a protective, purifying and fertilizing effect, and that they ward off evil spirits. For this reason they are scattered throughout the village.