Patron's Day of Lleida, Spain

Lleida celebrates its Festa Major on May 11, in honor of the patron saint of the city, San Anastasio. This feast was instituted on May 9, 1627, the day it was voted in the Seu Vella, by solemn oath made by the Chapter of the cathedral and the Paers, to celebrate the feast on May 11 in honor of San Anastasio, son, patron and protector of the city. The Festa Major of Lleida was born, then, in the year 1627. That first year the celebration is solemnized with several acts, between 10 and 12 May, both civic and religious, in honor of the patron: a proclamation to announce the festival, the morning service and the procession of the saint on the afternoon of the 11th, fireworks and so on. Some of these events are still celebrated today.

Initially this was one of the various festivals voted in the city of Lleida (as were, for example, those of San Sebastian, the Nativity of Mary, Santa Cecilia, the Immaculate Conception, etc.).

It was throughout the 18th century that the festival of Sant Anastasi took on the character of Lleida's main festival, standing out above the others, to the point that some of them disappeared during the 19th century, or at least its civic and popular celebration diminished.

The contemporary festival, as we understand it today, develops in the last third of the nineteenth century, when the City Council, first hesitantly and then more decisively, takes charge of all the events of the festival program. It is at this time when they begin to publish the programs and posters that announce it. Until then, although the City Council could assume the organization of some events, (especially the more formal and ceremonial), others were organized by various institutions and civic organizations such as parishes, guilds or civic associations, and some even had a certain private character (as in the case of society dances in private premises).