Vila Parish Celebrates Traditional Sant Romà Day with Mass, Aperitif, and Sardana

Vila parish in Encamp celebrated its traditional Sant Romà day on Pentecost Monday with a mass, aperitif, and sardana dancing at the chapel, attracting around 50 locals, visitors, and officials in a festive atmosphere of community reunion.

The event, held every second Easter Monday around the small hermitage, started at 11am with a solemn mass officiated by mossèn Àlex Vargas. The chapel filled quickly due to limited space and parking, forcing some attendees to listen from outside under the shade via loudspeakers. Culture, Youth and Childhood councillor Joan Sans praised the turnout, estimated at about 50 people and higher than last year. "There's plenty of people here, more than last year for sure," he noted, describing it as "a moment to come together for the second Easter."

After the service, participants enjoyed a popular aperitif featuring sweet and savoury coques, non-alcoholic drinks, and coeliac-friendly options. This led into sardana dancing under the trees near the chapel, accompanied by the Andorra la Vella sardanista group, which has attended faithfully for years. Some joined the circles while others socialised over refreshments, under bright sunshine.

Sans emphasised the event's role in preserving customs that foster social cohesion in the mountain parish, known for its strong sardana tradition as Ciutat Pubilla de la Sardana since 1995. He announced sardana workshops resuming the first week of June, in partnership with the Federació Sardanista. Last year's eight sessions at Plaça Sant Miquel drew around 20 participants of all ages and earned positive feedback. "The workshops worked very well with people of all ages," Sans said. The Comú d'Encamp has yet to finalise this year's location but seeks to sustain the intergenerational practice.

Parish cònsol major Laura Mas, cònsol menor Xavier Fernández, and other councillors attended the gathering, organised by the Comú d'Encamp to promote popular culture and ties.