Every 22nd September, the religious pilgrimage dedicated to St. Maurice is held and there are still those who remember when a wooden hand, symbolising the one that he lost in his martyrdom, was kissed by the faithful. There was a story told about this hand that our parents and grandparents worshipped.

On one occasion, a terrible drought spread across the surrounding forests, pastures and crops. The wells dried up, the lakes turned to mud and the farmers watched their cattle die. The wheat, barley, trees and shrubs withered. The cicadas and insects hid, sad to see the misfortune that did away with so much property.

A dark and sinister woman had heard about the miracles of the saints and wanted to convince the farmers that all the misfortune was harming the people had been caused by a well-known martyr: St. Maurice.

Gathered on Las Almas Hill, a crowd of people attended with great curiosity the ceremony organised by this evil woman to expel the drought: into a big bubbling pot she threw a wax hand, making everyone believe that it belonged to the saint, to show that the suffering came from here. The force of the boiling made the pot tip over and the flames engulfed the shrubs and dry grass, razing forests, fields and farmhouses with a ferocious crackle. Then, unexpectedly, the sky darkened with black clouds and the rain began to violently water the land: the streams and wells filled to overflowing and the crops were covered in water; the people ran to take shelter in their houses, fearful of being dragged along by the torrent of water, closing doors and gates.

Right here, where the fire went out, a wooden hand could be seen signing the blessing of the place. The people believed that it was the hand of St. Maurice and so the town converted to Christianity.

ST. MAURICE RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE 22nd SEPTEMBER
Sardana dances, arts and crafts stalls, popular traditional rice food and the traditional Heredero Riera dance. One of the oldest religious pilgrimages in Catalonia and a festival where locals head in groups to the hermitage to spend the day in the company of friends and family.