On Friday June 17 is celebrated the Hèsta d’Aran, local festival of the Val d’Aran, where is commemorated the restoration of the current Consèlh Generau d’Aran, an event which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.
During the day, it is tradition to hold a reception at the headquarters of the Consèlh Generau d’Aran, after which a procession with the standards of the constituencies or terçons that form the Aranese territory today (Pujòlo, Arties and Garòs, Castiero, Marcatosa , Lairissa and Quate Locs) parade to the Sanctuary of Nostra Senhòra de Mijaran. There takes place the religious ceremony followed by the official ceremony and a performance of Aranese dances.
The Plenum of the Consèlh Generau d’Aran, in an extraordinary session on 30 May in Arròs approved an institutional declaration of the 25th anniversary of the Conselh Generau d’Aran restoration. Among the scheduled events, yesterday was held a memorial at the Catalan Parliament.
An historic landmark
The Catalan Parliament approved on June 28 of 1990 the first Special Law of the Val d’Aran. This was a momentous event in the history of this territory, which over time has repeatedly expressed loyalty to its institutions and willingness to exercise self-government and management of public affairs.
This will was evidenced by its inhabitants, when on June 26, 1979, all members of the Aran corporations elected in the first democratic elections, created in the church of Cap d’Aran the Intermunicipal Management Committee for Reinstatement of Aran Institutions to establish areas of collaboration with the Catalan institutions. This led to the establishment of the provisional Consèlh Generau d’Aran, on September the 2nd of the same year.
The Estatut d’Autonomia, approved in the Catalan Parliament in 1979, determined a first recognition of the historical and linguistic rights of Aran, with the first additional provision, which stated that in the framework of the Spanish Constitution and the Estatut, shall be recognized and updated the historical peculiarities of the internal administrative organization of the Val d’Aran.
Hèsta d’Aran program
11: 00h Reception of the síndic d’Aran, Carlos Barrera, to the authorities and guests at the headquarters of the Consèlh Generau d’Aran (Vielha). The event will have the presence of the Catalan government president, Carles Puigdemont.
11: 30h Parade of standards carried by the representatives of each Terçon to the sanctuary de Nostra Senhòra de Mijaran.
12: 00h Mass in the sanctuary de Nostra Senhòra de Mijaran.
13: 00h Institutional act of the Hèsta d’Aran in the ruins of the ancient sanctuary of Mijaran.
– Flag-raising
– Parliaments of authorities
– Aranese dances
20:00 Alisé Sans, Aranese singer in concert in the plaça dera Església (Vielha).