A pubilla (; plural pubilles) in ancestral Catalan tradition was the female that would inherit the whole rural estate in the absence of a brother.
Tradition She was the female version of the hereu or male heir of the whole property of the family. Traditionally, when a couple had no son, the eldest girl of the family would inherit the home and the estate in ancient Catalonia. The purpose was to not divide estates that were already too small to exploit in a profitable manner.JSTOR: Corporate Household and Ecocentric Kinship Group in Catalonia
From mid 20th century onwards the image of the pubilla underwent a change; in present times the pubilla has a role similar to a local beauty queen in local popular celebrations.Una pubilla no és una "miss" d'Ariadna Ventura, publicat a El Punt del 30 de setembre de 2009 Sometimes the female gegants are dressed as a pubilla, like in Manresa.Pubilla gegant Often the naming of a pubilla is a good occasion for a Catalan girl to dress in the traditional costume.Auca de la pubilla
See also Traditions of Catalonia Symbols of Catalonia Ciutat Pubilla de la Sardana
References
Literature Kathryn A. Woolard, Double talk: bilingualism and the politics of ethnicity in Catalonia, Stanford University Press (1989),
External links
L'hereu i la pubilla de la Garrotxa: una qüestió de devoció, no de vocació Elecció de l'hereu i pubilla de la catalunya central 2010