Easter Monday is one of the most important celebrations in Catalonia during the Easter season. Make the most of this festive day and travel with Shuttle2Sun to get around and experience this celebration from the inside. We offer low-cost and sustainable private transfer services and shared transfer services from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and AVE Camp de Tarragona train station.
Easter Monday, also known as “Dilluns de Pasqua” in Catalan, is the day after Easter Sunday and marks the end of Holy Week. This celebration is characterised as a public holiday in Catalonia where many people enjoy outdoor and family activities around Barcelona and Costa Dorada.
The Mona de Pascua
The most popular tradition in Catalonia during Easter Monday is “La Mona“, a typical cake that is given to children. This is a kind of cake decorated with painted hard-boiled eggs and little chocolate or sugar figures, an essential decoration in any Mona. These figures can be animals, people, fictitious characters or even abstract shapes. In some cases, monas are also decorated with toys and other sweets.
The tradition of the Mona dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was customary to offer a cake to godparents at baptisms in gratitude for their support. Over time, this custom evolved to include children and the Mona became a gift for them.
Nowadays, many pastry shops and bakeries around Tarragona, Cambrils, Reus, Salou and La Pineda offer a wide variety of monas to choose from. There are monas of all sizes and shapes, from the smallest to the largest and most elaborate. In addition, you can also find personalised monas with special designs, such as cartoon characters or favourite sports. It is a beloved tradition for children and adults alike. Many families buy a Mona to share with their loved ones and enjoy Easter together, at home or outdoors.
This tradition is so popular that many towns on Costa Dorada, Costa Brava and around Barcelona hold Mona Fairs, where different types of Mona de Pascua are exhibited and sold, as well as other typical products of the region. One of the most popular is the Feria de la Mona in Sant Boi de Llobregat, located just 15 minutes from Barcelona airport, which is held in the Plaza de la Vila and involves the participation of numerous local bakers.
Coca de Llardons
Another popular activity on Easter Monday in Catalonia is “Coca de Llardons“, a type of savoury cake made with bread dough, bacon and sugar. This delicacy is eaten for breakfast or lunch and is usually accompanied by a good cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Coca de Llardons is a very simple dish to make and is usually prepared at home. Bread dough is made and mixed with bacon, sugar and, often, pine nuts and sultanas. Once the ingredients have been mixed, the dough is left to rise for several hours to increase in volume. The dough is then rolled out and placed on a baking tray and baked at a medium temperature until golden brown and crisp. It can be found in bakeries and patisseries during this Easter season and is also a typical meal at Carnival and Sant Joan.
How to celebrate Easter Monday
Easter Monday in Catalonia is a day to enjoy nature and the good weather of the Mediterranean climate. It is customary for many people to organise excursions to nature, bike rides, picnics and other outdoor activities, to share La Mona with friends or family and eat it together.
Taking advantage of the good spring weather, you can go on a bike ride in Cambrils. This way, you can get to know the town in a pleasant and fun way. There is also a bike lane that runs along the entire promenade from Cambrils to Salou.
On the other hand, you can enjoy a nice day around the beaches of Salou. Many of these beaches have areas where you can have a picnic and eat La Mona in the open air. Near Tarragona, you can take a stroll along its coastal paths overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. One of the most popular is the coastal path from Tarragona to Tamarit, very close to Altafulla.
Also, on Easter Monday, processions and religious festivals are held. They are usually very popular and attract thousands of people. Some of the most popular processions on Costa Dorada are held in towns such as Tarragona and Reus. Moreover, thanks to Reus airport and the AVE Camp de Tarragona train station, they are easily accessible.
Come and taste the Mona on Costa Dorada, Costa Brava and Barcelona with Shuttle2Sun. Discover the most popular Catalan Easter traditions from the inside in Barcelona, Tarragona, Cambrils, Reus, La Pineda and Salou. Get around with our comfortable shared transfer services and private transfer services from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Girona airport, Reus airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
