Andorra Parishes Revive Escudella de Sant Antoni with Modern Twists

Andorra's parishes are once again hosting escudella de Sant Antoni events this weekend, with the traditional winter stew adapting to modern tastes while preserving its cultural roots.

Public squares in Andorra la Vella, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Encamp and Canillo will fill with the aroma of the hearty dish, a symbol of community and shared identity. Organisers have introduced vegetarian and gluten-free versions alongside the classic recipe to accommodate diverse dietary needs. Parish councils emphasise that such changes ensure the tradition's survival. "A tradition that does not adapt to its people is destined to disappear," one statement noted.

In Andorra la Vella, the Confraria d’Escudellaires has held the event uninterrupted since 1970, drawing locals and visitors to Plaça Guillemó on Saturday at 12.30pm. The parish highlights its ability to "update the tradition without distorting it."

La Massana's Confraria de Sant Antoni prepared batches in advance at the French school kitchen, Borda de l’Avi and Sant Gothard venues. Cooks degreased meat broths—a local hallmark—while separately making a vegetable stock blended into some portions and reserved purely for vegetarians. A fully gluten-free batch avoided cross-contamination. "The aim was for no one to miss out on escudella," organisers said. The event takes place Saturday at 1pm in the main square.

The celebrations blend religious, festive and culinary elements: masses mostly at 11am, midday markets (encants) and escudella servings around 1pm. Escaldes-Engordany schedules its meal slightly earlier at 12.45pm in Plaça dels Dos Valires, also on Saturday. Encamp's gathering at Plaça Sant Miquel on Saturday follows its 2010 designation as a cultural heritage event, sustained by resident involvement. Canillo hosts on Sunday at 1pm in Plaça del Telecabina.

Other parishes join later: Pas de la Casa kicked off on 13 January at Plaça de l’Església, while Sant Julià de Lòria plans its escudella on 20 January for Sant Sebastià day at 1pm in Plaça de la Germandat.

Festivities feature live music from Grossband, Esbart Valls del Nord and Pyrenean folk groups, fostering intergenerational gatherings. Across Andorra, the stew reinforces communal bonds, passed down through generations as a winter ritual beyond mere sustenance.