Photos

Attire

Typically castellers wear white trousers, a black sash, a bandana and a coloured shirt often bearing the team's emblem. A differently coloured shirt indicates which team a participatant is in. Team Castellers de Barcelona wear red shirts while Castellers de Vilafranca wear green shirts.

The sash is the most important part of their outfit, since it supports the lower back and is used by other castellers in the team as a foothold or handhold when climbing up the tower. This piece of cloth varies in length and width and depends on the casteller's position inside the tower and also on choice. Length range from 1.5 to 8 m, and usually is shorter for those higher up in the castell. Performing castellers usually go barefoot as to minimise injures upon each other as they climb to their position and also for sensitivity when balancing and to have better feel and hold each other.

The arrangement of castellers can be into a multi-tiered structure and the highest has a height spanning of nine or ten people from ground up. Accidents are seldom during the construction of a castell, however as in bull runs ambulance are stationed nearby just in case a person needs to be immediately taken to hospital. Fatal accidents do occur where on August 6, 2006, in Mataró a young casteller fell off the formation of castell she was part of and died. Prior to this, the previous death of a participatant was in 1981 in Torredembarra.

The motto of Castellers is "Força, equilibri, valor i seny" (Strength, balance, courage and reason).

Strength: A casteller is usually a stocky person. The first castellers were peasants that were accustomed to holding great weights and were under much physical exertion.

Balance: For supporting other above in the castell while relying on those below for support requires a strong sense of balance and trust.

Courage: The most important characteristic for castellers, especially for young children forming the highest levels of the castell.

Reason: Rehearsing and performing requires a great deal of planning and reasoning. Any error can cause the structure fail and break apart.

All info on internet.

2nd post on the Reus festival.