Josep Vidal i Granés in Gràcia and the tradition

In 1828, a baker from Sant Cugat opened a small shop at number 111 on Gran de Gràcia street, unaware that his personal crisis would birth a tradition celebrated by thousands. Josep Vidal i Granés was an ordinary tradesman whose life took a dramatic turn when he faced imprisonment in the feared Ciutadella fortress for his Carlist political beliefs.

From his cell, Vidal made a desperate vow to Saint Medir. If he survived, he would walk to the saint's remote hermitage in the Collserola hills every March 3rd. When he was finally released, Vidal kept his promise in an unexpected way. On March 3rd, 1830, he rode his mare through the narrow streets of Gràcia, a drum hanging from his neck, throwing handfuls of homemade candies to surprised children.

He shouted about his miraculous survival, and neighbors gathered to witness the spectacle. His family and friends joined him the following year, then more neighbors, then entire groups. The tradition outlived its creator. When Vidal died in 1856, the community refused to let his pilgrimage fade. What started as one man's thanksgiving transformed into the Festa de Sant Medir, where 24 neighborhood groups now parade through these same streets, distributing over 42 tons of candy each year.