Ossa de Caselles Bear Dance Revived After 82 Years in Andorra

The traditional "Ossa de Caselles" bear dance is set to return this Saturday in Sant Joan de Caselles, reviving a custom that last took place on 27 December 1942.

Villagers had long gathered for the solemn mass honouring the parish's patron saint, Sant Joan Evangelista. As they emerged from the church, a local man dressed in sheepskin would appear as the bear, playfully checking attendance. During the subsequent dance, the figure would lead the festivities: first inviting each young woman from the village to dance one by one, then prompting the young men to join their neighbours on the floor. The tension mounted until hunters arrived to "shoot" the bear, ending the performance.

This ritual, one of two historic bear traditions in the Canillo parish—the other in Canillo itself—faded during the Second World War for reasons that remain unclear. Now, the Barcelona-based L’Animal Teatre company will stage a modern revival after Saturday's mass in Sant Joan de Caselles. The production adds scripted dialogue while preserving the dance element, but updates the finale: the bear will no longer fall to hunters' shots, reflecting contemporary sensibilities.

Canillo's culture chief, Robert Lizarte, expects to soon clarify details about the Canillo bear's original schedule and disappearance. For now, locals and visitors can witness the resurrection of this slice of Andorran folklore at the Vilar festa major.