Andorran Parishes Celebrate Festa de l’Os in French Pyrenees

Representatives from Encamp and Ordino parishes joined celebrations in the French Vallespir region over the weekend, participating in the Festa de l’Os in Sant Llorenç de Cerdans.

The Andorran delegation, organised by the government's Cultural Heritage Department alongside Encamp's festivals commission, Ordino's Popular Culture Association, and local officials, attended the event as part of broader efforts to safeguard Pyrenean Bear Festivals. These traditions gained UNESCO recognition in 2022 as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, encompassing festivities in Encamp, Ordino, Arles, Prats de Molló, and Sant Llorenç de Cerdans.

The group included members of Encamp's festivals commission, representatives from Ordino's Popular Culture Association, Ordino's councillor for associations Meritxell Rabadà, and Isabel de la Parte, director of the Cultural Heritage Department. Their presence underscored institutional and community commitment to preserving the custom.

Such gatherings form part of an annual exchange programme among the involved communities, fostering cross-border cooperation, shared experiences, and stronger cultural ties. Each year, participants from one location attend festivals in others, building a network for mutual support and transmission of the tradition.

The visit reinforces Encamp and Ordino's dedication to collaborating on the festivals' safeguarding plan, ensuring their ongoing vitality across the Pyrenees.