Beans, Beans
This little bean, the fesol de Santa Pau, is a big deal in Catalonia. Tender and flavorful, fesols grow well in the volcanic soil of the Pyrennees foothills region of La Garrotxa, where there’s an association of growers dedicated to reviving the traditional crop. They’re celebrated every winter at the “Fira de Sant Antoni, Fira del Fesol” in their hometown, Santa Pau. This year, the party’s on for January 19th and 20th — next weekend.
Clearly, the fesolada is the main event (an anything -ada basically means a pig-out focused on that food; in this case it’s all about beans). You don’t see people clamoring like this for Santa Missa, though there is one that includes a blessing of flocks. Restaurants from around the region bring their bean specialties to be sampled (tickets are 5 Euros) and there’s dancing and carrying on. The town’s website is currently posting a complete schedule of events.