Sant Sebastià Brotherhood Serves 2,500 Escudella Portions Amid Snowstorm

Despite heavy rain giving way to intense snowfall on Saturday, the Sant Sebastià Brotherhood in Sant Julià de Lòria distributed around 2,500 portions of escudella to parishioners at midday, with volunteers undeterred by the weather.

Some 50 volunteers started work around 5:30am in the Reig car park opposite Plaça de la Germandat, as restoration resumed on the Centre Cultural Lauredià façade. They used six 150-litre pots to prepare 900 litres of stew, incorporating about 450kg of meat alongside more than 250kg of vegetables, beans, rice and pasta. Long lines formed around the square and along Avinguda Verge de Canòlich, with residents braving downpours and snow to collect their free meals before heading home.

Lead escudella maker Pere Obiols noted the participation of about 10 young volunteers. "It's a great satisfaction that young people are getting involved and returning to our traditions," he said, voicing hopes the event would continue yearly. Brotherhood secretary Bruno Bartolomé praised the team's early-morning dedication and explained that one pot was reserved for the volunteers themselves to ensure consistent flavour across servings.

Sant Julià's cònsol major, Cerni Cairat, underscored the tradition's endurance. "Whether it rains, snows or blows, the escudella goes ahead," he said, adding that it helps sustain customs across generations, including new brotherhood members. "This keeps our traditions alive, which fills us with great joy." He also remarked that he had "never seen so much snow," though its wet nature kept conditions manageable.

Now in its third generation—from founders over 80 to their grandchildren—the event highlighted a strong handover. Volunteer Meritxell called it a "very family-oriented and intergenerational tradition," with younger participants ready to step up as elders retire.

Local dignitaries attended, including consellera general Maria Àngels Aché, conseller general Pol Bartolomé, consellera de Cultura Teresa Areny and Mossèn Pepe Chisvert, who blessed the escudella before serving began at 1pm. The brotherhood, which has about 500 members, held its annual assembly in the church beforehand, with Comú support. Cairat mentioned plans to return to the Centre Cultural Lauredià site next year once works advance.