The " Jocs Florals " festivity is the festivity of poetry , a contest that rewards poetic compositions , makes them to be listened and spreads them throughout.
They were born in Tolosa de LLenguadoc , on the 14th century, when d´oc language was , par excellence , the language of poetry.
Due to the good relationships beetween the occitania and Catalonia , Barcelona followed Tolosa behaviour and , already in the Middle Ages , Catalonia also had their " Jocs Florals ", in 1393 , that were celebrated until the 15th century.
In the 19th century , during the Renaixença , the " Jocs Florals " were restarted again after three centuries od Decadència , during which there wasn´t any kind of literary expression. Thanks to the recovery of the festivity , the language as a vehicle of culture was revalued. From then on , from Catalonia or from the exile , they haven´t stopped working.
The institution that , supported and protected by Barcelona City Hall , summons the " Jocs Florals " is the Consistori of the " Jocs Florals ". But often the name of the Consistori has been used to designate the jury or group of mantenidors that , in groups of seven , are the judges that ward the prizes.
The Consistori also invites to participate in the festivity a personality , called Forà , who is not resident or not born in Catalonia , who has a relationship with the country , who knows and loves it. This guest collaborates in the festivity explaining his / her feelings and experiences and values that he / she has found in Catalonia.
The ordinary prizes are : * La Flor Natural ( The Natural Flower ). It is the honor and cortesy prize to the best poem that sings to love. According to an ancient tradition , the winner of this prize chooses a lady-in-waiting who is proclaimed Queen of the Festivity.
* L´Englantina d´or , prize to the best composition of a patriotic character about a historic subject or about something resalting present values or future projects from the country.
* La Viola d´or i argent , to the best poem that emphasizes the fidelity to the spiritual values.
We wish , to the maintainers ( of the X@rsec ) and to the Secretariat / Serveis Educatius from Catalonia in general , that your interest and enthusiasm for language and literature , for the catalan cultural traditions , will be translated in new participations in next summons and in new " Jocs Florals ".
