The pig slaughter in Catalonia

In many regions of Catalonia, pig slaughter is much more than a process of producing meat and sausages: it's a festival, a tradition that celebrates its rural roots, its culinary culture, and its coexistence in many towns across the country.

Origin and meaning of pig slaughter

Pig slaughter has traditionally been a subsistence activity for many rural families: providing them with meat, fats, and sausages to eat throughout the year when fresh meat was unavailable. The preferred time to slaughter pigs has typically been autumn and winter, after the harvest and when climatic conditions are favorable for preservation.

For the inhabitants of farmhouses and rural areas, slaughter was much more than a technical act: it was a moment of gathering and cooperation among families and neighbors, where work, stories, rituals, and celebrations were shared. Over time, and despite modern health and legislative restrictions (which, for example, prohibit public slaughter), the tradition has often transformed into culinary or recreational celebrations that celebrate the cultural essence.

From November 11th until the end of March, the inhabitants of many farmhouses work together for one or two days to slaughter the pig. There are also popular expressions that reflect this, such as " A cada porc li arriba el seu Sant Martí" ( Every pig has its Saint Martin).

The party as a celebration

The pig slaughter, which has become a collective celebration, includes several moments that combine ritual, gastronomy and leisure: from skinning (when legal or permitted under private conditions), the preparation of sausages, the setting up of grills, the boiling of butifarrón (a type of sausage), to the dinner or popular artisanal meal.

In many towns, the festival has become a symbol of home-style and local cuisine, serving as a tourist attraction and cultural preservation event. A notable example is the Pig Slaughter Festival at the Cellera de Ter, held the first weekend in March and featuring a fair, tastings, and popular activities.

Also in Llacuna, the Pig Fair and Slaughter is held around November 30th, with a craft fair and popular meals, a good example of how the tradition has been adapted to the local festive calendar. In Montgai, since 1983, a day of symbolic slaughter and sausage making has been celebrated, followed by a popular lunch and dance.

These celebrations have created bonds between generations: for older people, they are a way to recover ancestral memories and wisdom; for young people, they are an excuse to learn about cultural roots, cook with neighbors, and enjoy a distinctive festive atmosphere.

Municipalities where the pig slaughter is celebrated

The tradition of pig slaughter is not limited to a single territory, but is widespread throughout Catalonia. Although each town celebrates it in its own way, all these celebrations share a common spirit: celebrating rural customs, leftover cooking, and the value of uniting as a people.

Below you will find a list of Catalan municipalities where the Pig Slaughter Festival or variations such as Mandongo, Rancho, or other related winter festivals are celebrated:

Alcarràs - Winter Festival / San Sebastián / Pig Slaughter
Alpicat - Pig slaughter
Segre Craftsman's Workshop - Pig Slaughter
Bellpuig (Seana neighborhood) - Festival that includes the slaughter of the pig
Benifallet - Tossino Slaughter Festival
Borredà - Pig Slaughter Festival
Bovera - Pig Slaughter
Canet d'Adri - Pig slaughter
Capafonts - Mandongo Festival
Castellserà - Pig Slaughter Dinner
Ciutadilla - Pig Slaughter
Claravalls (Tàrrega) - The slaughter of the pig
Conesa - Pig's Lunch / Pig Slaughter
El Vilosell - Pig Slaughter
Fondarella - Carnival / Pig Slaughter
Forès - Mandongo Festival / Pig Slaughter
Granyena de les Garrigues - Pig slaughter
Ivars d'Urgell - Pig Slaughter and Carnival
La Cellera de Ter - Pig Slaughter Festival
La Fuliola - Mandongo Festival
La Laguna - Pig Fair and Slaughter
L'Espluga Calba - Pig slaughter
Lliçà d'Amunt - Pig slaughter
Manlleu - Pig and Beer Festival
Masalcoreig - Pig Slaughter
Massanes - Pig Slaughter
Massoteras - Pig slaughter
Montgai - Pig Slaughter
Nalec - Traditional pig slaughter
Oliana - Carnival Ranch Party
Paüls - Feast of Saint Anthony
Passanant - Pig Slaughter
Puiggròs - Pig slaughter and carnival
Roquefort de Vallbona (Sant Martí de Riucorb) - Pig slaughter
Sant Feliu de Buixalleu - Pig Slaughter
Sant Fost de Campsentelles - Pig slaughter
Sant Martí de Maldà (Sant Martí de Riucorb) - Pig slaughter
Santa Maria de Montmagastrell (Tárrega) - The slaughter of the pig
Sidamon - Pig Slaughter
Sitges - Pig Slaughter Festival
Tornabous - Carnival / Pig Slaughter
Vallbona de les Monges - Pig slaughter
Vilaverd - The Slaughter of the Pig
Vimbodí - Pig Slaughter / Pig Festival
Vinaixa - Pig Slaughter Festival

The Pig Slaughter Festival in Catalonia bridges the gap between the past and the present. What began as a means of subsistence has now become a festival that celebrates values: community building, local cuisine, tradition, and rural identity. In a globalized world, these celebrations remind us that culture is not just about consumption: it is cultivated, learned, and shared.