Sants was an independent village until annexed by Barcelona in 1897; its Festa Major evolved from religious processions (Santa Maria de Sants in the 19th century) to a secular street festival by mid-20th century. The decoration of streets began in 1943, lapsed under Franco, and was revived in 1985 until today. Now it retains strong neighborhood identity, showcasing Catalan traditional dance (sardanes), castellers in local squ...