Comments on: Human Towers

By: isma

isma — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:01:05 +0000

The tallest tower ever done was 10 people tall. It was done by "Minyons de Terrassa", the group from the city where I live. "Castellers" is much a tradition than a contest. They score points for each castle done during the year, but it's not the tipical competition. Some groups are trying to make a league, but not all groups are agree with that. They prefer to maintain that as a tradition and spectacle in popular celebrations. Answering to Jose Miguel, Catalonia has never been an independent country due to militar occupations. Spain killed catalan people, a president and tried to erase catalan culture from the world... To others... it's a great experience to watch how they construct these castles. If you ever have the opportunity to assist, you can't lose it!

By: Mar

Mar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:41:44 +0000

Actually, one little girl (it's not only boys that climb to the top, and some are as young as five years old), belonging to the Capgrossos of Mataró, died a couple of years ago, but it's been about the only recorded casualty in over 300 years of castells.

By: sw

sw — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:52:08 +0000

now, this is the same community with the pooping xmas log? i have learned more about catalan from neatorama . . .

By: liphttam1

liphttam1 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:02:25 +0000

Still no one can beat ants at this.

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:44:46 +0000

Dog pile!!

By: despertaFeRRo

despertaFeRRo — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:20:41 +0000

Scooter: no, no one has ever died doing "castells".

The only accidents happen when all the structure fall, and the kids on the top fell, but they get hurt very, very rarely as they have to wear helmets.

By: just a guy

just a guy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:19:10 +0000

that's a whole lot of butts.

By: Jose Miguel

Jose Miguel — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:15:49 +0000

In answer to llll:

Catalonia is one of the historical communities that conform Spain, as is Valencia, Galicia, Andalucía or Aragon. It has never been an independent "country" by any means... and much less became part of Spain by a military occupation 300 years ago.

Talking about the article, it's a great tradition but dangerous, especially for the people that climb to the top (7 to 12 year-old men).

By: Scooter

Scooter — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:38:26 +0000

There are a certain number of people that die every year from doing this if i remember right.

By: Gauldar

Gauldar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:10:35 +0000

This is Catalonia we are talking about. Just to be certain, the guy on top doesn't pull down his pants and let a bar roll down the man-tower does he?

By: Craig

Craig — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:26:05 +0000

I wonder if that's where Clive Barker got the idea for the story "In the Hills, the Cities". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_Blood#In_the_Hills.2C_the_Cities

By: Larfin Jackarse

Larfin Jackarse — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:24:07 +0000

Strong bones for the underlings!

By: llll

llll — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:12:40 +0000

The name of these human towers in Catalan are "Castellers", a great tradition from Catalonia, a nation with more than 1000 years of history, under Spain by a militar occupation 300 years ago.
Catalonia is not Spain. Freedom for Catalonia.
//*\\

El nom d'aquestes torres humanes en català és "Castellers", una gran tradició de Catalunya, una nació amb més de 1000 anys d'història, sota España per una ocupació militar de fa 300 anys.
Catalunya no és España. Llibertat per Catalunya. Visca Catalunya lliure!
//*\\

By: Busby SEO Test Gary Viray

Busby SEO Test Gary Viray — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:14:50 +0000

Wow that is interesting. I wonder how the tallest human tower is like to win such a contest.