We’ll have another happy weekend in the Val d’Aran where, after the white winter, villages are waking up wanting colour and outdoor activities. Araneses and visitors can choose from festivals, fairs, competitions and traditions, all combined with the many other proposals to enjoy the valley in the spring.
Shasclada deth haro in Les et tallada del taro in Arties
As tradition, the second weekend in May the village of Les celebrates the first of the great acts of his Hèsta deth huec (fire festival), the Shasclada deth haro, which will take place on Saturday 14th.
In this edition, on the occasion of its declaration as Intangible Heritage of Unesco, at noon an exhibition dedicated to the failures of the Pyrenees will be open and you can visit it until 22 May at the Escola d’Ostalaria. (Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 to 17 h and Saturday morning.)
At 15:30 will begin the baishada deth tronc (down the trunk). The men of the village will lower the haro from the forest, a wooden trunk between 10 and 12 meters and took it into the town square, just named the Plaça deth Haro. On their way through the bridge of the Garonne River, the procession made a stop at Pont, where there will be performance of 
typical Aranese dances by Es Corbilhuèrs. In addition, some establishments on the way will offer a sip of sweet wine and typical Aranese cakes.
By midafternoon the haro make its entry to the Shasclada in the square of Les, to strip its bark so it could dry well and be burned during the night of San Juan, on June 24. The festival will end with a popular dinner and DJ in the square from 21h.
On Sunday will take place too the Tallada del taro in Arties.
Spring Festival in Vielha
Another spring tradition, although in this case coming from afar, will take place in Vielha. Holi, the festival of the Hindu spring, also known as the feast of love, will inundate of colour the Plaza de la Iglesia of the Aranese capital on Sunday morning, with a Bollywood dance (11h) and roll colours (12h). The exhibition will performed by the students of the Tchaikovsky School of Vielha directed by the dancer Shahida Ahmed from the Sheri Masala Club Barcelona. Moreover, those who want to initiate in this discipline can attend the master class of Bollywood dance that will take place on Saturday.
Aranese sheep fair in Vielha
And we do not let Vielha because the same Sunday al 10 am will be opened the Aranese sheep fair in the parking lot of the military in the town, where will take place an exhibition, the X morphological contest of Aranese race, an exhibition of selected male and a sheared sheep contest. In the afternoon a demonstration of cut logs will be held in various forms. Throughout the day various activities such as playgrounds, popular breakfast, a drawing of wooden figures and awards contests will happen.
The sheep of the Val d’Aran, considered of special protection because it’s facing risk of extinction, it is appreciated for its great meat potential and the quality of its wool, highly prized among artisans.
