Double celebration around the Càntir in Argentona: 50 years of the Càntir Museum and the 75th Càntir Festival.
Double celebration centered around the Càntir in Argentona: 50 years of the Museo del Càntir and the 75th Fiesta del Càntir
This 2025 is a year of anniversaries and celebrations centered around the càntir in Argentona. The reason is twofold: the Museo del Càntir turns 50 (25 of which have been at its current location), and the Fiesta del Càntir will celebrate its 75th edition. For this reason, a program of special events and a graphic image have been prepared to highlight this double anniversary of an element that is now forever linked to the popular imagination when speaking of Argentona.
The program of events was presented by the director of the Museo del Càntir, Oriol Calvo, who wanted to emphasize that when he travels the world, people always recognize Argentona for the Càntir. This is a curious fact, as we are not talking about a city with a pottery tradition, but rather a town that has managed to make the tradition of blessing the waters of its fountains in honor of Saint Dominic its own. As Calvo explained, the kick-off for this celebration will be on August 2nd: “We are preparing a solemn act of recognition for all those people who have worked to make this Museum and the Fiesta del Càntir what it is. It is always good to be grateful and to recognize the merits of the people who have made it possible, and in this case, a great many people who have worked in a completely selfless way. What we who came later have done is to continue with that flame they lit, to keep it alive, and if possible, more alive than ever.”
It will be during the main festival of Saint Dominic (from August 2nd to 6th) when the bulk of the planned activities will take place, in a year that will enhance the children's games centered around the càntir at the Escola Riudemeia, a càntir lifting event that promises new features, and the traditional painting of the giant càntir. A large-format artistic event that will feature two this year, one by the artist Jordi Prat i Pons and the other by the family audience.
The number 50 as the star of the image
The presentation event served to unveil the graphic image for the double celebration, created by the Mataró-based designer Regina Puig. A graphic image embodied in a "50" formed by the shape of the càntir and its handle. The slogan "A story that flows like water!" accompanies a logo with a modern design, which is already displayed on the town's streets on attractive banners that will greet all the visitors coming to Argentona for the Argillà Festival.
The institutions alongside the anniversary
The councilor for culture, Quim Capdevila, opened the event by highlighting the meaning of the entire celebration. “We are talking about acts of gratitude to those people who made it possible for us to be sitting here today in this great museum. And I don't mean a large museum in size, but a museum that is known throughout the world. When we travel, everyone recognizes us as a benchmark, and I believe this should give us more momentum to move forward,” stated the councilor.
Mayor Montse Capdevila concluded the event by offering a reflection on the importance of Argentona's connection with the càntir: “The Museo del Càntir and its Fiesta are not just about what has been created within this museum. It is a tradition, and it is truly these key elements that make it a tradition, which have created this projection beyond Argentona and which has a return that is much greater than what seemed like a small thing: a càntir for drinking water. We show ourselves to the world and identify as a town through this connection with history and the main festival.”
The origins of the Fiesta and the Museum
The presentation event featured the notable participation of Raimon Català, as a member and founder of the Amics del Museu del Càntir. He provided context for the beginning of it all, with the first display of càntirs in 1951, by reading the preface of the Xarbotada and highlighted the importance of Jaume Clavell, who was present at the event in the form of the bust that presides over the museum's lobby. Català explained the origin of it all: “Who organized those festivals and competitions? Who made the index cards for the càntirs? Who photographed them? Who dusted them? Who organized the museum? Who opened the museum? The young men and women who, after 1962, remained connected to the Fiesta del Càntir. Every Sunday morning, we had breakfast at the museum and did the work... and after three years, we already had over a thousand càntirs.”
He also wanted to highlight the work done by the Amics del Museu, often unknown to many, who travel throughout the territory showcasing and promoting the games centered around the càntir. “Today, they have a greater presence than ever in all the regions of our country and even in some provinces of Spain, publicizing the only games that exist related to water and the Càntir: The Xarbotada and its lifting and drinking from the Càntir,” explained the member of the Amics del Càntir.
Double celebration centered around the Càntir in Argentona: 50 years of the Museo del Càntir and the 75th Fiesta del Càntir
This 2025 is a year of anniversaries and celebrations centered around the càntir in Argentona. The reason is twofold: the Museo del Càntir turns 50 (25 of which have been at its current location), and the Fiesta del Càntir will celebrate its 75th edition. For this reason, a program of special events and a graphic image have been prepared to highlight this double anniversary of an element that is now forever linked to the popular imagination when speaking of Argentona.
The program of events was presented by the director of the Museo del Càntir, Oriol Calvo, who wanted to emphasize that when he travels the world, people always recognize Argentona for the Càntir. This is a curious fact, as we are not talking about a city with a pottery tradition, but rather a town that has managed to make the tradition of blessing the waters of its fountains in honor of Saint Dominic its own. As Calvo explained, the kick-off for this celebration will be on August 2nd: “We are preparing a solemn act of recognition for all those people who have worked to make this Museum and the Fiesta del Càntir what it is. It is always good to be grateful and to recognize the merits of the people who have made it possible, and in this case, a great many people who have worked in a completely selfless way. What we who came later have done is to continue with that flame they lit, to keep it alive, and if possible, more alive than ever.”
It will be during the main festival of Saint Dominic (from August 2nd to 6th) when the bulk of the planned activities will take place, in a year that will enhance the children's games centered around the càntir at the Escola Riudemeia, a càntir lifting event that promises new features, and the traditional painting of the giant càntir. A large-format artistic event that will feature two this year, one by the artist Jordi Prat i Pons and the other by the family audience.
The number 50 as the star of the image
The presentation event served to unveil the graphic image for the double celebration, created by the Mataró-based designer Regina Puig. A graphic image embodied in a "50" formed by the shape of the càntir and its handle. The slogan "A story that flows like water!" accompanies a logo with a modern design, which is already displayed on the town's streets on attractive banners that will greet all the visitors coming to Argentona for the Argillà Festival.
The institutions alongside the anniversary
The councilor for culture, Quim Capdevila, opened the event by highlighting the meaning of the entire celebration. “We are talking about acts of gratitude to those people who made it possible for us to be sitting here today in this great museum. And I don't mean a large museum in size, but a museum that is known throughout the world. When we travel, everyone recognizes us as a benchmark, and I believe this should give us more momentum to move forward,” stated the councilor.
Mayor Montse Capdevila concluded the event by offering a reflection on the importance of Argentona's connection with the càntir: “The Museo del Càntir and its Fiesta are not just about what has been created within this museum. It is a tradition, and it is truly these key elements that make it a tradition, which have created this projection beyond Argentona and which has a return that is much greater than what seemed like a small thing: a càntir for drinking water. We show ourselves to the world and identify as a town through this connection with history and the main festival.”
The origins of the Fiesta and the Museum
The presentation event featured the notable participation of Raimon Català, as a member and founder of the Amics del Museu del Càntir. He provided context for the beginning of it all, with the first display of càntirs in 1951, by reading the preface of the Xarbotada and highlighted the importance of Jaume Clavell, who was present at the event in the form of the bust that presides over the museum's lobby. Català explained the origin of it all: “Who organized those festivals and competitions? Who made the index cards for the càntirs? Who photographed them? Who dusted them? Who organized the museum? Who opened the museum? The young men and women who, after 1962, remained connected to the Fiesta del Càntir. Every Sunday morning, we had breakfast at the museum and did the work... and after three years, we already had over a thousand càntirs.”
He also wanted to highlight the work done by the Amics del Museu, often unknown to many, who travel throughout the territory showcasing and promoting the games centered around the càntir. “Today, they have a greater presence than ever in all the regions of our country and even in some provinces of Spain, publicizing the only games that exist related to water and the Càntir: The Xarbotada and its lifting and drinking from the Càntir,” explained the member of the Amics del Càntir.