With Today´s Social Media, Who Needs Community?

and five food coupons for 10 euros. As we walk in, I calculate there are probably 30 individual stands dotted amongst the trees, at which the providers of the local wines and food now await our patronage.

Vineyards abound in the Montbrió del Camp region, while olives, almonds, hazelnuts, fruit trees and vegetables are also produced. The area is famous for its high-quality virgin olive oil. As a town, although Montbrió del Camp has been settled since Roman times, it was only given official charter in the 12^th century. Nowadays, the architecture of the town ranges from the Middle Ages to the present day, with plenty of renaissance-style and modernist buildings to be found in the narrow streets which are lined with mainly stone buildings. The spa resort Termes Montbrió was catalogued in 2003 as the best complex of its kind in Europe.

Festivals in Spain often celebrate the fundamentals of life, especially in rural communities. For centuries, the changing of the seasons has been accompanied by ceremony; the creation and consumption of food, likewise is an activity marked by social events. A festival gives the community a chance to congratulate itself on what it has achieved (for example, the harvest) and to give thanks for that achievement. Throughout history, festivals have been a reminder to the people of the village that they are all dependent upon one another to stay safe and prosper. In Montbrió del Camp, another popular festival is Sant Antoni, at which the animals used in agriculture are blessed.

It´s a Saturday night and MontVi is cranking into gear. I can´t possibly know, but I strongly suspect that most of the 300 or so people surrounding me are locals. I saw them coming out of their houses as we walked to the venue; I can see them now greeting each other with warm affection. The ambience is one of familiarity. Already, numerous small children have delighted in seeing to Miss Torrebadella (Yolanda) at a social event and have proudly introduced her to their parents – who exchange knowing smiles with Yolanda, with whom they´ve probably been friends for years. Many people politely greet Jaume, evidently wanting to stay on the right side of the law. There is an expression we use: it is, muy del pueblo. It means (that a person is) very much of this town. Everyone here is muy del pueblo.

Tables, chairs, bar stools and bales of hay are scattered throughout the area but are not enough for even a third of the crowd. Some people have brought their own deck chairs. Some people have even brought their own food: which suggests they are here more for the togetherness than to taste the local produce (which they might already have at home). I can see elderly grandmas and grandpas comfortably seated, just watching the passing parade. At any one time there might be half a dozen people at each wine/food stand, waiting to be served. Meanwhile, the vast bulk of people are standing in groups, increasingly animated by the wine and social contact. There are people of all shapes, people of all sizes. Talking, eating, laughing and drinking. For the adolescents of Montbrió del Camp this is clearly an important event on the “boy meets girl” social calendar. All the young lads are dressed in precisely the same clothes and have identical haircuts. They are trying so hard to look cool, whilst trying to look as though they are not trying at all. Clusters of giggling 14-year-old girls have their faces painted up in an attempt to look sophisticated. But applying make-up stylishly is a talent the future has yet to bestow upon them. Unaware, they scurry with mobile phones in hand from group to group of boys.

With the gathering darkness, a band takes to the stage and starts doing sound checks. The band members – four local fellas – are all dressed in the sort of short-pants and t-shirt attire that one often sees at the hardware store on a Saturday afternoon. I wonder if they´ll change into their outfits after the sound check? (Alas, no). A gathering of perhaps ten children – none of them even half the height of the stage – has now assembled in front of the stage and are beginning to wriggle in anticipation of the music. Are they expecting some of their favourite songs from the Spanish equivalent of Play School? Or perhaps something in the Catalan folkloric style? What they get as an opening number is Born To Be Wild, the 1972 song by the British heavy metal band, Slade. And the infants love it, gyrating their little bodies to the entire unintelligible commotion. Songs from The Beatles, The Police and David Bowie follow. What next, I am left wondering….Tina Turner´s Nutbush City Limits?

At night´s end, on our way back to the car, we come across the Rendadors de Sant Antoni. This is a public wash house where women of the village did their laundry in times gone past. Built in 1777, long before tap water to each house was even a concept, the wash house plaque says it was “a vital community space where women gathered to socialise and share local news”. That is, to gossip and exchange ideas. Now, 250 years later at the MontVi festival, the people of Montbrió del Camp are still getting together and still talking. Intuitively, they know that in a modern world of laptops and internet shopping, a small town is still defined and sustained by its interpersonal relationships. They attend events like this because centuries of experience has taught them a simple truth – community works. Plus it´s a good Saturday night out.