Andorra's Sant Julià de Lòria Holds Full 3-Hour Caramelles Procession Despite Heavy Rain

Despite heavy rain forcing last-minute adaptations, the Coral Rocafort and Petits Cantaires de Sant Julià de Lòria pressed ahead with their annual caramelles procession on Sunday, the day after Easter, maintaining a 62-year tradition unique in Andorra for its full three-hour format.

The event was set to begin at 11am outside the Casa Comuna, with around ten stops across the parish until 2pm. Sudden showers prompted singers to seek cover, performing at the town hall entrance, the tunnel to the tanatori, Plaça de l’Avinguda Francesc Cairat, and the Església de Sant Julià i Sant Germà following a solemn mass. A group of about a dozen children from the Petits Cantaires, in traditional attire, joined roughly 20 adults from the Coral Rocafort, led by director Brigit Garcia and backed by two musicians. At each stop, the girls handed out Andorran flag brooches in return for voluntary donations—a shift from historical in-kind offerings like eggs, bread, and sausages.

Garcia, who has directed the choirs for four years, highlighted the tradition's deep Catalan influences, shared with neighbouring regions but distinguished in Sant Julià by its complete street procession. Unlike shorter versions in places like Encamp or La Massana—where rain that day also confined Corals Sant Antoni and Sant Miquel to indoor church performances with reduced crowds—Sant Julià's event endured outdoors under shelter. This year introduced the sardana *Dansaires Andorrans* by choir founder Daniel Areny as a fixed emblematic piece, paired with the havanera *Vestida de nit* by the Cruz family.

The director stressed evolving the custom without losing its core, especially through youth involvement amid modern distractions like technology and sports. Many child participants are children of former singers, fostering generational continuity, though Garcia hopes numbers will grow beyond the current dozen. "Sharing with adults makes it appealing," she said, adding that inculcating the practice in children ensures its survival as the parish's future.

Public support held firm despite the weather, with families including the Plas joining onlookers. The groups also revived the original 1962 poster by Sergi Mas, symbolising resilience over more than six decades.