SOMETHINGABOUT “ELS PASTORETS”, A CENTURIES-OLD TRADITION
Around Christmas, in Catalonia, there are many representations of this play by amateurs groups.
Image of a representation of “Els Pastorets”.
Els Pastorets are one of the most genuine exponents of Catalan popular culture. These traditional representations in the towns and cities of Catalonia have exceeded the religious and exhibition scope and have become a sign of identity of the place they represent. In addition, historically, they have been a theatre school where many of the actors and actresses of our country have debuted. The content of Els Pastorets deals with the birth of the announced messiah according to the Judeo-Christian tradition. Thus, we can find the adventures of some shepherds who receive the news of an angel who says that the messiah has been born. Since the shepherds receive the announcement, they want to go to Bethlehem, and this is where the forces of evil, and the forces of good, begin to intervene to help or prevent the little shepherds from arriving. 6
In this way, the plot is built from three stories: the first, the betrothal of Joseph and Mary, the couple in search of an inn and the birth; the second, the struggle between angels and demons; and the third, focused on the shepherds, humorously.
Origin The origin of Els Pastorets can be found in the medieval representations that were celebrated inside the churches on Christmas Day. This representation was met with an inevitable decline and decay from the sixteenth century, following the requirements of the Council of Trent, when illustrations of this type were banned in temples, so these representations were moved to the street and later to famous theatres. In the following years, this show grew under the influence of the Spanish Baroque theatre, many of the characters were defined, and the plot base was based on Christmas gospel stories.
