This Sant Jordi, we have the honour of welcoming an iconic figure from Tarragona’s festive bestiary to Espai Robafaves: the Drac Petit de Sant Roc de Tarragona.

Its visit is especially meaningful at a time of year when dragons take centre stage. It is also a wonderful opportunity for children and adults alike to discover up close a figure full of symbolism, history and Catalan popular culture.

🗓 Dates: 14 April to 17 May 2025
⏰ Opening hours: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
📍 Location: Espai Robafaves – c/ Montserrat, 7, Mataró

The first figure in Tarragona’s children’s festive procession

The story of the Drac Petit de Sant Roc began in 2000, when the members of the Drac de Sant Roc decided to create a smaller version of their figure for children.

The figure was created by Àngels Cantos, the same sculptor who had made the larger Drac. And so the Drac Petit de Sant Roc was born, becoming the first figure in Tarragona’s children’s festive procession.

Its creation opened up a new way for children to take part in the city’s traditional festivities, allowing younger generations to experience popular culture from within and become an active part of the celebration.

A story that takes us back to 1426

To understand the origins of the Drac Petit, we also need to look back at the history of the Drac de Sant Roc. The first documented reference to its predecessor dates back to 1426.

At that time, the Drac danced alongside the figure of Sant Jordi, representing the eternal struggle between good and evil. This historical connection makes having the Drac Petit in our window display during the Sant Jordi celebrations even more special.

Unfortunately, like much of Tarragona’s festive bestiary from that period, the figure disappeared towards the end of the 15th century as a result of the severe crisis that affected the city.

A tradition that is still alive

Centuries later, the revival of the Drac de Sant Roc and, subsequently, the creation of its Drac Petit have helped keep alive a story that forms part of Tarragona’s festive heritage.

Now we have the privilege of bringing a small part of that heritage to Mataró, where visitors can see the Drac Petit up close, discover its details and learn more about everything it represents.

Culture, tradition and fun… at Espai Robafaves!

This window display is part of the commitment we made at Espai Robafaves in 2023: to bring Catalonia’s popular and festive culture closer to everyone, children and adults alike.

Every figure that visits us gives us the opportunity to discover a different story and open a small window onto the festivities, traditions and popular heritage of towns and cities across Catalonia.

And this time, our guest could not be more fitting for the occasion: a dragon to celebrate Sant Jordi. 🐉🌹

CULTURE, TRADITION AND FUN!

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