Andorra's Sant Antoni Escudella Festivals Kick Off with Record Turnout

Andorra's Sant Antoni escudella festivals kicked off on January 13 in Pas de la Casa, where organizers distributed nearly 800 portions amid strong turnout from residents and visitors enjoying mild weather. The events, a cultural interest tradition, continue this weekend across parishes with communal servings, markets, and themed plates.

In Pas de la Casa, volunteers and Culture department staff fired up cauldrons at 4am after prepping meats the day before with 14 participants. Serving began promptly at 1pm in Plaça de l’Església, using classic ingredients like white and black botifarra, potatoes, chickpeas, noodles or rice, bread, and tortell, alongside celiac-friendly choices. Escudellaire major Àlex Arnó credited the altitude of over 2,000 meters for a superior broth, as lower boiling at 90 degrees creates a slower, smoother extraction compared to sites like Encamp at 100 degrees. The recipe scaled for 500-800 portions with 400 liters of escudella, 16 chickens, 25kg meats, 18 cabbages, 30kg carrots, and 40kg potatoes—three large pots, one kept as broth to extend supply if needed. Cònsol Menor Xavi Fernández joined councillors Sabrina Grégoire, Verònica Solsona, Andreu Riba, Judith Torres, Marta Pujol, and Joan Sans, who noted the early efforts and "escudella d'alçada" distinction. Commemorative plates featured Torre dels Moros de les Bons, reviving a heritage theme.

La Massana's gathering on January 17 anticipates even bigger crowds on the weekend, with the Confraria de Sant Antoni targeting 2,800 portions of the noodle, legume, and meat staple, plus gluten-, lactose-, celery-free, and vegan options added last year. Leader Josep Maria Troguet pointed to their professional chefs and trained volunteers—a dozen children and over 20 adults—who start degreasing broths Friday for a flavorful yet light result. Counsellor Mònica Solé stressed family accessibility for the parish's top event. The schedule includes an 11am mass at Sant Antoni de la Grella chapel with Coral Sant Antoni, a free shuttle from Centre Vila at 10:30am, noon Encants led debut by local youth Marc Martos, and performances by Esbart Valls del Nord (this year's plate honoree), Grossband, and Pyrenean folk music.

Andorra la Vella hosts its 57th edition on January 17 at Plaça Guillemó, where about 90 escudellaires and Culture logistics teams light fires at 5am for 1pm service using the time-honored recipe, finished with tortell. New members Eduard Tarrés Ficapal and Arnau Costa Beal join, with gold pins for long-serving veterans. The €8 "l’escudella de la padrina" plate, nodding to home tradition since 1970, sells from 10am in Centre Cultural La Llacuna's lobby, now showing an exhibit of prior editions.

Encamp's January 18 event at Plaça de Sant Miquel starts with 1pm Encants—a charitable food auction—followed by celiac-safe escudella from 1:30pm, with Torre dels Moros plates. Canillo's Sunday vianda at Plaça del Telecabina offers 1pm Encants for social causes, 1:30pm animal blessings, and servings with Canillo’s Band Tocant, a format started in 1979 by Pere and Antoni Torres.