La Guita Xica
La Guita Xica (Catalan pronunciation: [lə ˈɣitə ˈʃikə]) is the smaller of the two Guites, mule-dragon effigies that perform during La Patum de Berga, the Corpus Christi festival held annually in Berga, Catalonia. It was incorporated into the festival in 1890 during a period of expansion and reorganisation of La Patum.[1][2][3]. The older Guita was historically known by several names, including Mulassa, Mulafera and Mulaguita. The smaller figure incorporated into La Patum in 1890, however, is known as Guita Xica and is popularly called Guita Boja ("Crazy Guita").[3] La Guita Xica was originally considered a demon, but has become a protective spirit over the past century. It is also called a tarasca, which is a name for draconic creatures of Spanish and Latin American folklore.
La Guita Xica was half-mule and half-dragon. This comes from Catalan mountains where the mule remains a richly evocative animal. It had a strong practical importance, but it is also known for its temperament, which was disruptive and uneasy to the point where its domestication was considered untrustworthy. Originally La Guita Xica was considered a threatening force but it is now considered a protective dragon that defends the people of Catalonia and the Eucharist's festivals of Patum de Berga.
History
The older Guita Grossa is documented from the seventeenth century. According to the Generalitat heritage catalogue, the Guita Xica joined La Patum in 1890 after originating in one of the neighbourhood versions of the festivals then held in Berga.[2] In 2014, regional press reported the rediscovery of an original head of the Guita Xica. Historian Albert Rumbo stated that the object had been made between 1868 and 1872 and first appeared in the town square in 1890.[4]
Appearance and performance
The Guita is a mule-dragon figure with a mule´s body, horse´s tail, giraffe-like neck and dragon´s head. Its long neck can be controlled from inside, and its head carries three lit fuets in its mouth. The Guites do not have their own music; they move to the sound of the Tabal, interact with the crowd and also take part in the final Tirabol.[2][3]
See also
References
- ↑ "Patum of Berga". unesco. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
- 1 2 3 "Les Guites / La Patum de Berga / Corpus / Festes i elements festius catalogats o declarats / Inici - Patrimoni festiu - Generalitat de Catalunya". patrimonifestiu.cultura.gencat.cat. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
- 1 2 3 Rumbo i Soler, Albert (2020). "La Patum de Berga: salvaguarda y protección de una fiesta medieval en el siglo XXI". II Congreso Internacional de la Bajada de la Virgen, 2020, págs. 403-414. Cabildo Insular de La Palma: 403–414.
- ↑ Berga, Redacció | (2014-12-20). "Albert Rumbo troba el cap original de la Guita Xica de la Patum". Regió7 (in Catalan). Retrieved 2026-08-26.
Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth, Carol Rose, 2001