Sant Roc, town vote in Arenys de Mar

The day of Sant Roc is celebrated in Arenys de Mar as a result of a painful historical event: the plague. If this epidemic hadn't affected the town, the Vot de Vila (Voit de Vila), a tradition that has endured for centuries, wouldn't exist.

When the first waves of plague arrived, Arenys had just over a thousand inhabitants. There was no sewage system, and living conditions were very precarious. The Municipal Council of 1618 already mentioned the Brotherhood of Sant Roc as an ancient entity. The town was officially established in 1574, and by then, places that are now central, such as the Casino square, were already the town's vital core, while spaces like the Calisay were on the outskirts.

Arenys has historically been a town of fishermen and farmers. Homes were very modest, with hardly any furniture; people ate with their hands and often slept in the same room as their animals. These conditions facilitated the spread of the Black Death, transmitted by rat fleas from Asia or Africa. Contaminated produce could also carry the infection. Poor harvests caused by drought aggravated the situation of the poorest, making them more vulnerable.

To combat the disease, folk remedies were used, both internal (such as ineffective medicines) and external (disinfectants like rose water). The latter is still used symbolically during the festival: the "macips," during their parade through the streets, sprinkle people with rose water to remind them of that historical context.

The plague could wipe out between 20 and 40% of the population. Desperate, the inhabitants of Arenys gathered in the church of Santa Maria to ask for divine help. They implored the protection of Sant Roc and made a solemn promise: if he interceded and the plague disappeared, he would be remembered every year forever. Thus was born the Vow of the Town, which has remained alive century after century.

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