what is la merce festival barcelona

La Mercè is the annual festival of the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. It has been an official city holiday since 1871, when the local government first organized a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, La Mare de Déu de la Mercè in Catalan. Although the actual feast day is September 24, the festivities begin a few days beforehand. The celebration has religious origins, honoring the Virgin of Grace, patron saint of the archdiocese of Barcelona, and co-patroness of the city. The festival has been celebrated since the Middle Ages and includes a variety of events such as the Correfoc (Fire Run), projection shows, human towers ("castells"), fireworks, concerts, theater, and circus performances. The festival is a celebration of popular culture and the general public takes to the streets to have fun. The festival lasts for around 5 days and is a significant event in Barcelonas festival calendar, featuring a wide range of activities for people of all ages.