Religion of the Catalans. Costa Brava Catalonia. The former glory of Catalonia

17.05.2016 07:58:17

Many tourists and potential immigrants, when they get to the Spanish city of Barcelona, ​​find out that in fact the local Catalan residents do not consider themselves Spaniards, and do not even speak pure Spanish.

Welcome to Catalonia!

Like the famous Basque Country, Catalonia has its own unique character that sets it apart from the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.

After several centuries as an independent, powerful kingdom with its own language and traditions, Catalonia is still unable to dissolve into a single Spanish state.

This colorful northeastern corner of Spain, inhabited by friendly and friendly people, is well known to millions of foreign tourists, including Russians. Here they are greeted every year by the sights of Barcelona and Girona, as well as cozy Costa Brava resorts such as Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar, Mataro or Blanes.

A person who has flown to Catalonia for the first time will be interested in discovering not only the historical and natural, but also the cultural treasures of this freedom-loving province.

The former glory of Catalonia

A large, triangular-shaped autonomous province covering 32,000 square kilometers between the Pyrenees and the east coast of Spain, Catalonia is home to 7.5 million inhabitants, many of whom were born outside its borders.

The lands of Catalonia stretch from the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea in the east to the snow-covered mountain peaks in the west.

The cultural boundaries of the province are much wider - they reach Valencia, the Balearic Islands and the southern regions of France.

It is not surprising that the united and compact Catalan minority living in this region, with its own language and rich culture, constantly strived for self-determination, from time to time making the Spanish monarchs and prime ministers nervous.

Closely linked by dynastic marriage with Aragon and receiving incredible benefits from its seaports, Catalonia was known as a powerful trading empire in the Middle Ages. Its power reached its peak in the 14th century, when Catalan banners flew over the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Sicily and distant Athens.

In 1380, the Greek Parthenon was guarded by Catalan soldiers.

The marriage between Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469 marked a turning point in the history of Catalonia, after which the monarchs moved the center of economic and military power from Barcelona closer to the Atlantic, where Christopher Columbus would soon open new horizons of European trade expansion.

After the bloody War of the Spanish Succession at the beginning of the 18th century, the new King Philip V of Spain stripped the Catalans of their historical privileges, concentrated all power in Castile and began an open campaign against the Catalan language. For greater confidence, he stationed 30 thousand soldiers in the center of Barcelona, ​​who were supposed to maintain order in the rebellious region.

The cultural and political life of Catalonia somewhat revived only in the 19th century, when industrialization reached here.

In those years, the economic boom, along with the rapid replenishment of the ranks of the urban proletariat, made Catalonia a seething cauldron of radical left and nationalist ideologies.

During the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923–30), the Catalans again felt pressure from the Spanish authorities to attack their political autonomy and native language.

The next attempt by the Catalans to express themselves took place during the Spanish Civil War, but the pro-fascist dictator Francisco Franco strangled Catalonia for a long time: the study of the Catalan language became illegal, the history of independent Catalonia was erased from textbooks, and Catalan books were removed from libraries.

Despite the complete restoration of the rights of the Catalan minority, tensions in relations between Catalonia and the rest of Spain are still felt, although their clarification from now on never goes beyond civilized European boundaries.

Respect for Catalan traditions

Catalans are famous for their commitment to national traditions and culture.

Saint George, the dragon slayer, was considered the patron saint of Aragon, so he is historically revered throughout Catalonia. Nowadays, this holiday is the local equivalent of Valentine's Day and is celebrated by couples in love. Catalan men traditionally give roses to their ladies, and in return it is customary to give good books.

The tradition has taken root so much that bookstores in Barcelona fulfill their annual sales target on this day.

The Festes de Merce festival in Barcelona is also very popular.

It starts on September 24th, spans several days and can include hundreds of different events throughout the city. Fortunately, creative Catalans are not deprived of imagination. Fireworks displays, "demons" decorated with sparklers, parades in the streets with giant figures and much more.

Holidays are also a great opportunity to taste Catalan cava, the local version of champagne.

The Catalans have one of the oldest Christmas traditions in Spain and one of the most unusual in the world.

This may seem funny to some, disgusting to others: here it is customary to make figurines of little men in red barretina and with their pants down, who relieve themselves in great need.

The man is called “El Caganer”, which in Catalan reflects the action depicted in the figurine. There are many beliefs associated with this and it is believed that the kaganer brings good luck to its owner.

It's hard to believe, but the Catholic Church doesn't even stop the Catalans from adding caganers to the Christmas nativity scene.

Moving and immigration to Catalonia

Catalonia, with its high standards of living, developed infrastructure, gentle climate and friendly people, attracts a huge number of immigrants, not only from the third world, but also from prosperous countries in Europe and America.

Barcelona is the second destination for immigrants after Madrid.

The largest immigrant communities in Catalonia are Moroccans, Romanians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Ecuadorians and people from other Latin American countries.

Over the past decades, the region has become so popular among foreigners that now 3 out of 4 new residents of Catalonia are immigrants.

In addition to disadvantaged people who are looking for a better life, wealthy citizens of Germany, Great Britain, the United States, and Canada have been moving to Catalonia for many years in a row. Among them are pensioners who, with their savings, can buy a house on the Costa Brava or in another picturesque area, enjoying a measured, quiet life and sea views in their declining years.

Catalonia's economic advantages are a deciding factor for many when choosing a new home, but immigrants are advised to take into account the special nature of Catalan nationalism and the linguistic differences between the region and the rest of Spain.

Some local residents clearly feel that the influx of immigrants to Catalonia poses a threat to their native language and culture, so the immigration issue remains a hot topic for political debate and speculation. For example, nationalists here demand that children of immigrants study only in Catalan (today this is the right of choice of parents).

Language is definitely one of the top factors to think about before immigrating to Catalonia.

As you begin to explore employment and educational opportunities, remember: Spanish is not enough!

Common sense dictates that life in such a specific region will be easier and more enjoyable if you speak Catalan and have a good knowledge of local customs.

Work in Catalonia

Finding a job in Spain is not easy, and the Catalan language makes finding a job even more difficult.

Absolutely any job in the public sector requires knowledge of the Catalan language by law. Business also communicates mainly in the local language, so employers will require basic knowledge from you. Unless you're in an industry that requires English, you'll have to compete for jobs with the bilingual local population.

Since tourists very rarely speak the Catalan language, in tourist Barcelona and along the entire Costa Brava, bartenders, waiters, maids and other workers with knowledge of English, Spanish, German, etc. are constantly required.

Students who intend to enroll in universities in Barcelona may not rely much on their Spanish.

The share of study programs and materials in Catalan here ranges from 60% to 100%, so applicants should prepare for these realities in advance. Luckily, the Catalan language is very similar to Spanish, so it won't be too difficult for a Spanish speaker to learn the language.

Living and buying property in Catalonia

In the heart of Catalonia - Barcelona - life is more dynamic, more expensive and varied than in the provinces.

In general, like in any other European metropolis. Although Barcelona is smaller than Madrid, the city is often called the cultural capital of Spain, and many tourists like Barcelona much more than Madrid.

The cost of living in Spain is significantly lower than in the United States and several Western European countries, but in Catalonia, especially Barcelona, ​​your costs will be slightly higher compared to the rest of Spain.

If you have not yet decided to buy real estate in Catalonia, then be prepared that renting a home will top the list of your expenses.

At the same time, prices for food, clothing and basic necessities in Catalonia are very reasonable.

The roads in Catalonia are excellent, the transport network is extensive and well thought out, and trains and buses are relatively inexpensive.

From Barcelona there are flights to all the towns and cities of the Costa Brava, as well as to the mountain resorts of the Pyrenees. Multi-million flows of foreign tourists in Catalonia are served by three airports - the large Girona-Costa Brava International Airport, as well as Reus Airport and a small airport in the Pyrenees Mountains - De La Seu.

Barcelona is far from the only city in Catalonia where you want to stay forever.

If you prefer a slow life, then 90 km from Barcelona is Girona - a quiet old town of 100 thousand, from which it is about an hour’s journey to Playa de Aro, Tossa de Mar, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Palamos and other famous resorts.

Buying an apartment in Girona is a profitable option.

Despite the caustic jokes about immigrants who do not speak Catalan, the inhabitants of this region are very welcoming, hospitable and friendly people. Catalans passionately love their families, devote a lot of time to raising children, respect the elderly and cherish national traditions. They have something to be proud of.

Be open to new things and you will definitely love Catalonia!

Although the Barcelona club players play in the Spanish national team, there are Catalans who will still root for the opposing team of the Spanish team. This is explained by the fact that the Catalans do not support the dictatorial policies of the Spanish state.

Stereotypes

Spain is associated with guitar, bullfighting, sangria, flamenco, paella. In Catalonia, tapas and paella are treated with the same respect. But the difference is that bullfighting is not held here (the attitude towards animals is good), flamenco dancing is not practiced, and only professionals perform Spanish melodies on the guitar.

Catalan soil has its own symbols, traditions and dances. For example, the national Catalan dance is the sardana (round dance).

The donkey is the symbol of Catalonia. The donkey was not chosen by chance, thereby expressing opposition to the Spanish bull. Just as the bull (torro) symbolizes aggressiveness, strength and laziness (a purely Spanish quality), and the Catalan donkey is a symbol of diligence, perseverance and hard work. Catalans are very hardworking people. They do not neglect any work, since many have lost their jobs due to the crisis. They can work as simple waiters, while having completed higher education. And, in comparison, in the south of Spain, the majority of unemployed people receive benefits and live on it.

It's not fair

Catalonia has the highest taxes, compared to other regions of the country, as the government decided - hardworking people, let them work for the well-being of the whole country. Salaries in Catalonia are high compared to other Spanish regions, but the cost of living is also higher. For example, in the southern regions the average salary is 600 euros, in Catalonia - 1,500 euros.

Today, road tolls have been abolished throughout Spain, and in Catalonia you must pay to travel on the high way. Most drivers are outraged by this circumstance and traffic jams of dissatisfied people form at the barriers. Workers who charge entry fees, observing the dissatisfaction of motorists, open the barrier and let them through for free.

Historically, the people of Catalonia have suffered under the despotism of the Spanish government. During the reign of dictator Franco (1939-1975), French films, divorce, freedom of speech, contraceptives, as well as the Basque and Catalan languages ​​were banned at the state level in the country. All this time, Catalans studied in Spanish schools, and spoke their native language only at home, in the family.

Donkeys by car

After the fall of the dictatorial regime, Catalonia slowly began to revive. Everyone began to stick the donkey symbol of Catalonia on cars, Spanish schools were closed, and the native Catalan language returned. Local schools teach exclusively in Catalan. There is Spanish in the school curriculum, but only two lessons a week. This is how the Catalans were offended by Franco's dictatorial regime.

Catalonia can become an independent state provided that the majority of the population votes for it. In Catalonia, 65% are local residents, the rest are immigrants from other countries and other regions of Spain. They don’t want independence for Catalonia.

Catalonia as a tourist destination

Tourism is one of Catalonia's most important sources of income. And the number of Russian tourists visiting it has increased by as much as 90 times since 1990. And the Catalans want there to be even more. Therefore, hotel staff are learning Russian with furious persistence, cafe owners are printing menus in Russian, the Department of Tourism is publishing and sending out advertising booklets in Russian, and its representative offices are opening in Russia and other CIS countries. And, naturally, it is not difficult for the “stingy” Catalans to realize that being hospitable to Russian journalists will not only bring pleasure to both guests and hosts, but will also bring dividends. Journalists will return home and tell their compatriots how wonderful this Catalonia is and how interesting and good it is to relax there.

Although, frankly speaking, Catalonia does not need any special advertising. The resorts of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, the magnificent monuments of Barcelona, ​​Gerona and Tarragona, Catalan castles, monasteries and small medieval towns have long attracted millions of foreign tourists. The choice of places to relax is extremely wide. We can say in advance: wherever you go, it will be very interesting and generally great.

You can go to the northern part of the Catalan Mediterranean coast - to the Costa Brava. Despite the rocky shores, there are beautiful pine groves everywhere, reaching right up to the cliffs, which outline countless picturesque coves with beautiful beaches. Fishing villages and resort towns are scattered along the coast. Among them there are very unique ones. For example, Ampurias is a kind of Venice. From the bay on the shore of which it is located, canals were laid, which essentially turned into streets. Luxurious villas were built along the banks of the canals. Yachts are moored in front of the villas. Judging by the signs on the gates, there are many foreigners, especially Germans, among the owners of the villas. One must think that recently our compatriots have also been settling in Ampurias.

Not far from the coast there are often ancient castles, around which villages or towns crowd. For example, Pertaglada Castle, which combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is perfectly preserved. And again, Catalan pragmatism could not be avoided - the owners of the castle set up an excellent restaurant in it, very popular among tourists. From the Costa Brava you can easily reach Gerona, the main city of the province of the same name. The city is more than 2,000 years old, and during this time it could not help but accumulate a large number of attractions. The Cathedral, the Episcopal Palace, Arab baths (former, of course) and the famous Jewish quarter - Kal. Also, of course, a former one, since all Jews were expelled from Spain back in 1492. By the way, among non-Catalan Spaniards there is an opinion that the Catalans owe some of the already mentioned features of their national character, in particular their entrepreneurial spirit, to a significant share of Jewish blood, which seems to flow in Catalan veins.

There is another interesting monument in Girona - albeit from a later era. This is a bridge built by the French engineer Eiffel, the same one who built the Eiffel Tower. And in fact, the bridge resembles a piece of this tower, laid on its side and thrown across the river.

Fifty kilometers north of Gerona is Figueres, the hometown of the great surrealist artist Salvador Dali. There the artist built his museum-theater - a completely unimaginable surreal object. Just the huge golden eggs framing the roof are worth it. Talking about the Dali Museum-Theater is as pointless as trying to explain the essence of surrealism, guided by the concepts of classical art. This is a must see. Moreover, it is better to devote not two or three hours to the museum-theater, but the whole day. Because it’s simply impossible to explore all its labyrinths in less time.

South of the Costa Brava, the next section of the Catalan coast begins - the Costa del Maresme. Huge beaches, both in length and width, stretch for many kilometers. A mountain range protects them from cool winds. As a matter of fact, the Costa del Maresme is a whole constellation of resorts that have merged with each other. The most famous of them are Lorette de Mar, Calella, Malgrat de Mar. On their streets and squares, it’s as if some kind of festival is happening all the time. This impression is created due to the sparkling lights of shop windows, casinos, discos, idle crowds...

And finally, even further south - beyond Barcelona - is the Costa Dorada. There are calm, quiet beaches strewn with the finest golden sand. Costa Dorada is the warmest place on the Catalan coast. This, of course, does not mean that it is cold in other places. Sun and warmth are abundant in Catalonia, as befits a Mediterranean country. Just like antiquities, including ancient ones. In Tarragona - also the center of the province of the same name - for example, Roman defensive structures and even an amphitheater, which once seated up to 15,000 people, have been preserved.

Many people travel to the Costa Dorada with children. Moreover, very close to its main resort - Salou - there is an amusement park called Port Aventura, which translates as City of Adventure. There are quite a lot of adventures there. The entire park is divided into five geographical zones: “Mediterranean”, “Polynesia”, “China”, “Mexico” and “Wild West”. Each zone has corresponding attractions. For example, in “Polynesia” you can ride a boat down a waterfall falling from the mouth of a volcano, in “Wild West” you can ride a trolley into a gold mine, and in “China” you can ride the Great Dragon, that is, perform incredible pirouettes on huge “ roller coaster" (in Spain they are called "Russian"). The pleasure, frankly speaking, is not for the faint of heart. In each zone, folk groups formed from natural Polynesians, Mexicans and others perform.

In general, there is more than enough entertainment at Catalan resorts. Both those related to the sea (windsurfing, fishing, scuba diving, boat trips and much more), and those not related to the sea - tennis, golf, squash, horse riding. They take you to a flamenco show, a knight's tournament and even a bullfight - although the Catalans don't like it, but what can you do - tourists are curious about it. Fans of various types of drinks will not be disappointed either. Catalan wines are highly prized. Those who prefer beer will eagerly visit the numerous beer halls, often decorated like British pubs, German biergartens, Dutch, Danish and Swedish beer gardens. Pivnyuks of these and other nationalities are found there all the time.

And, of course, one cannot imagine Catalonia without its capital - the beautiful Barcelona. A city with more than a million people, one of the largest Mediterranean ports. City of the 92 Olympics. A solid city, in short. This is exactly the impression made by its business part, built up with Art Nouveau houses and modern high-rise buildings. And at the same time, Barcelona is an unusually light, artistic city. The image of the capital of Catalonia is largely created by the whimsical architecture of Antoni Gaudi. His world-famous creation - the openwork, but at the same time weighing heavily on you with its hugeness, the Church of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) - has become a symbol of Barcelona. Having started building the church at the end of the last century, the famous architect did not have time to finish it. His life ended in the most ridiculous way - Gaudi was hit by a tram. The Sagrada Familia has not been completed to this day. The municipality does not have enough money, and therefore the church is being built mainly from private donations. But it is still being built. So, over the past two years, the world’s longest unfinished construction project has acquired a new portal.

Breaking stereotypes

There are some unpleasant opinions about the Catalans that simply need to be destroyed:

1. Catalans will not want to talk to you if you address them in Spanish. It’s not true that if you speak in Spanish, they may first say a few words in Catalan, but then immediately switch to Castilian.
2. Catalans are unfriendly and reserved people. Myth. Catalans are friendly and open people. When communicating with people, they show keen interest and attention.

Whether there will be a Catalan Republic or not, time will tell, but there is no need to believe stereotypes.

Three years ago...On September 11, 2012, on the day of Catalan Day, about 1.5 million people took to the streets of Barcelona. They gathered in the city center for a demonstration in support of Catalonia's secession from the Kingdom of Spain. One and a half million people - every fifth resident of seven million Catalonia - not only silently agreed with the idea of ​​​​creating the state of Catalonia, but also took to the streets to be heard. Perhaps this is the largest rally in the history of both Catalonia and Spain.

Where do separatist sentiments in Catalonia come from? What reasons and arguments do the Catalans have in favor of this idea? Let's take a closer look at this, and to put it into context, let's also illustrate it with real slogans common in Catalonia.

So, according to the latest sociological data, more than half of the residents of Catalonia would like its separation from Spain. There are several reasons for this...

Reason one: historical, or “Catalonia is not Spain!”

Catalonia began to emerge as a separate state in the 8th - 9th centuries AD. after French troops conquered these lands from the Moors, who controlled the entire Iberian Peninsula. The territory of modern Catalonia was conquered first and a border zone was formed here between the Carolingian possessions and the Emirate of Cordoba, called the Spanish March. The Spanish March was divided into 13 counties with the center in Barcelona. Despite the fact that officially they were supposed to submit to France, in practice the Spanish March confidently moved towards the creation of an independent state, which happened with the ascension to the throne of the Count of Barcelona Ramon Beringer I, who was able to unite the remaining counties and marked the beginning of the Beringer dynasty.

Over the following centuries, the descendants of Beringer I worked tirelessly to expand the borders of Catalonia: in some cases through successful marriages, in others with the help of the sword. Thus, by the 15th century, Catalonia became part of a powerful empire - the Aragonese Crown - which included the kingdom of Aragon, Catalonia, the kingdom of Valencia, Majorca, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, the Kingdom of Naples, which occupied the territory of half of what is now Italy, Provence, and the Duchy of Athens. In short, almost the entire Mediterranean Sea was in the hands of the empire, on the throne of which sat a descendant of the Beringers.

The unification with Castile began with Ferdinand II of Aragon, who married Isabella of Castile. Although during their reign each of the kingdoms maintained its autonomy, subject to its own laws, the merging of the kingdoms began. The final annexation of Catalonia to Spain occurred with the victory of Philip V in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. Madrid troops opposed Catalonia, which refused to recognize Phillip V as king. After a long siege, Barcelona surrendered on September 11, 1714. In memory of this day, September 11 is celebrated as Catalonia Day. A military presence was established in Barcelona, ​​the Catalan language was banned, and parliament was dissolved. Since then, as a region of Spain, Catalonia has experienced different times: the conquest by Napoleon, industrialization, wealth, civil wars, and constant attempts to regain independence. The last attempt was made in 1931 by the President of the Generalitat (Catalan Parliament), Francesc Macia.

The historical memory of the greatness of the country is still alive in the Catalans, they are proud of their history, they see their path of development and do not want to turn away from it.

Reason two: cultural, or “Catalans are not Spaniards!”

And this is true, the Catalans are a separate nation, and calling them Spaniards would be wrong, and for many local residents it is also insulting.

Firstly, Catalan is spoken in Catalonia. At home, at work, in stores, at school, with friends, everywhere. Catalan is one of the four official languages ​​of Spain, formed about 1000 years ago on the basis of Latin, and the first written documents in this language date back to the 12th century. It is spoken not only in Catalonia itself, but also in Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Andorra, and some regions of France and Italy. Despite long periods of prohibition, both in the 18th century and under the rule of General Franco in the last century, the Catalan language is used daily in everyday communication throughout Catalonia. And although everyone in Barcelona speaks and understands Spanish, saying a few words of Catalan when communicating with the locals will win their hearts forever.

Secondly, the traditions here are significantly different from Spanish ones. Its own songs and dances, its own anthem, its own traditional costumes, its own poetry and theater, its own (of course the best in the world!) football team, cuisine and national symbols, and finally, the official status of a separate nation. All this contributes to the self-awareness of local residents as people who have little in common with Andalusians and Madrid residents.

Reason three: economic, or “Stop feeding Madrid!”

It so happened that from the very beginning of its history, Catalonia was a rich country. The ideal location on the Mediterranean Sea - between France and Spain - opened routes for trade and filled the treasury. And with the advent of industrialization in the mid-19th century, Catalonia became the most industrialized region of Spain. People came here from all over the country in search of work in textile and ceramics factories.

Catalonia still holds these positions today. Mechanical engineering, light and food industries, trade, agriculture and tourism are the factors that allow Catalonia to be considered the most economically developed territory today. As one of the seventeen autonomous regions of Spain, Catalonia produces more than 20% of GDP and pays more taxes to the Spanish treasury than all other provinces. It is a donor province whose revenues provide the poorest regions of Spain, such as Extremadura or Andalusia. Therefore, the Catalans are convinced that without giving money to their “big brother” they would live happily and richly.

Somewhere at the intersection of these arguments, the idea of ​​​​its own statehood is born, that only by achieving independence, Catalonia will enter a new era of prosperity and well-being. And many, many residents of Barcelona and other Catalan cities and villages dream of the day when at the city hall they will receive a new passport with a coat of arms in the form of a shield with 4 red and five yellow stripes and the inscription in gold letters CATALUNYA.....

Catalonia is an autonomous community occupying the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The Catalans themselves name their homeland Catalunya. All other peoples who make up the population of Spain call this region with the Castilian word Cataluña.

Catalonia is part of the Spanish Kingdom, which does not prevent local residents from dreaming of their own independent state. It was once a strong and powerful monarchy, occupying the territory of the modern autonomous community and the French department of the Eastern Pyrenees (the so-called Catalunya del Nord).

Catalonia is perhaps the best part of Spain

Current Catalonia consists of four provinces:

• Barcelona
• Girona
• Lleida
• Tarragona

The provinces, in turn, are divided into 41 districts.

Borders

In the north, Catalonia borders France and Andorra. The autonomy's western neighbor is friendly Aragon. In the southwestern direction lies the no less friendly Valencian community. It is known that both of these regions once formed a single kingdom, dominated by Barcelona.

In the east and southeast, Catalonia is washed by the gentle Mediterranean Sea. It is not for nothing that the province was once one of the leading maritime powers in this part of Europe.

The coast covers 580 kilometers. As a rule, it is all covered with beaches.

Main cities

The largest, most significant cities are:

• Barcelona
• Girona
• Igualada
• Manresa
• Lleida
• Tarragona
• Sabadell

These cities are of great economic and tourist importance.

Capital

Capital of Catalonia - Barcelona. It is the second most populous city in Spain. And in terms of beauty and originality, it is probably the first.

The capital of Catalonia is Barcelona

The capital of the region is a large Mediterranean port. It is also an important commercial and industrial center for the entire kingdom. And the most attractive object in terms of tourism.

Barcelona in numbers:

• city ​​area - 100 sq. kilometers
• height above sea level - 12 meters
• population - 1.6 million people (according to the 2011 census)
• telephone code + 34 93
• postal codes - 08001-08080
• official website - www.bcn.cat

Population

Catalonia has a population of more than 7 million people. True, only a third of them are true Catalans. The rest come from less wealthy Spanish regions (Andalusia, Murcia, Galicia). Economically developed autonomy has attracted more and more Spaniards in recent years. The proportion of foreigners permanently residing in Catalonia is also large. According to the latest data, their number is 14%.

By the way, the population density of the autonomy is one of the highest in the Pyrenees. The indicator is 225 people per 1 square. kilometer. In the capital, the figure is an order of magnitude higher.

Holidays

The most colorful holiday in Catalonia - festa major. This is a kind of City Day, or rather, the Day of the Saint who patronizes this or that city. It turns out that each locality has its own festa major, which takes place at the same time.

The holiday lasts for several days. Various competitions are held, craft fairs, attractions and folk festivals are organized. Both children and adults have fun.

A typical Catalan holiday activity is to build “living” towers. People climb onto each other's shoulders, forming a multi-tiered "castel". They participate in such “construction” only after special training.

The main holiday is National Day of Catalonia(Diada Nacional de Catalunya) - celebrated on September 11th. On this day in 1714, the region lost its independence.

And now a video in which the well-known TV traveler Dmitry Krylov talks about Catalonia:

Catalonia  region of Spain, divided into 4 provinces: Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida, Girona. In the north, the Pyrenees are the natural border of Catalonia with France, in the west Catalonia borders on the Aragon region, in the southwest on Valencia.

The population of Catalonia is 6.8 million Human. About 65% of them are native Catalans. The rest moved here from the southern provinces of Spain mainly in the 20th-21st centuries. Gradually, Catalonia's population density became the highest in Spain. Catalan is an independent language belonging to the Romance group. The first documents in Catalan date back to the 12th century. Catalan is spoken by residents of the Balearic Islands, in the autonomous region of Valencia (here it is called Valencian) and even in parts of Sardinia. Both the Spanish kings in the 18th century and the dictator Franco tried to eradicate the Catalan language, but without success.

For example, a Catalan philologist, teacher of Catalan as a foreign language, said:

I only learned to write Catalan at university. Therefore, it was not easy, at first I made a lot of mistakes and confused it with Spanish. Before that, we only spoke Catalan at home; teaching this language was prohibited.

And the Spanish language?  I asked  Is it native to you, like Catalan? Why don't you speak it?

We are so used to it. They just always spoke Catalan. And in Spanish, sometimes you think, what about some word in Spanish, and you don’t immediately remember...

Today, along with Spanish, Catalan is recognized as the official language in Catalonia. Teaching in schools and universities is conducted in two languages. The names of settlements are mostly Catalan, which is why even the Spaniards themselves, who come to Catalonia from other regions, often complain: “It’s as if we arrived in another country. The signs are in Catalan, the locals speak Catalan, a lot of things are incomprehensible...”.

And indeed: although the Catalan language is similar to Spanish, in some cases the differences are simply striking. Judge for yourself:

The Spaniards have come up with many jokes about the great love of the Catalans for the Catalan language. Here is one of them:

A resident of Madrid walks into a bar in Barcelona and orders a glass of beer (in Spanish). The waiter serves him and says (in Catalan):
95 cents from you. The Madrid resident leaves 90 cents on the bar and calmly continues to drink beer. To which the waiter answers him (in Catalan):
Listen, 5 cents are missing. The Madrid resident does not pay any attention, pretending that he does not hear. To which the waiter angrily declares (in Catalan):
Listen, it's 5 cents more. Let's not create a scandal. You can hear me perfectly. And the Madrid resident calmly drinks his beer, as if he were alone in a bar. Finally, the waiter, flushed with rage, begins to speak in Spanish:
Listen, you understand me perfectly, pay those 5 cents that you owe me! To which the Madrid resident, smiling and taking out money, replies:
I knew that for 5 cents you would finally speak Spanish!

In general, residents of other regions of the Iberian Peninsula tend to characterize Catalans as pragmatic, closed, sometimes even greedy, and not very friendly people, unlike, for example, Andalusians. A Catalan teacher I know answered my question about the concept of friendship for Catalans:

Yes, we are very private people. It is very difficult for us to start treating a person as a good friend. This can only happen a long time after meeting. But if someone becomes a friend to us, then this is real friendship, and we value it very much.

As for the rest of the national character traits inherent in Catalans, such features as frugality, the desire for wealth, and the desire to achieve success in work are not accidental.

From an economic point of view, Catalonia is one of the most developed regions of Spain. Catalonia's population represents about 16% of Spain's total population, but produces 23% of the gross national product. It is an industrial region, home to industries such as textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and automobile manufacturing. The main economic sector of the region, which has virtually no mineral resources, is no longer agriculture; it employs only 6% of the population, while industry accounts for 44% of the working population, and the service sector accounts for 50% of the population.

The character traits of the Catalans described above were also not ignored by the Spaniards living in other regions. Here are a few more anecdotes on this topic:

What does a Catalan do if he gets very cold?
Buys himself a heater.
What if it freezes completely?
Turns it on.

A Catalan child asks his father:

Dad, dad! Take me to the cinema!
But we were there yesterday!
Yes, but this time we'll go inside!

Catalan family; A father who needs to hammer nails to hang a picture asks his son:

Go to your neighbors for a hammer.
The son obediently goes to the neighbors and returns:
They said they wouldn't give it.
The father answers:
Okay, let's take ours.

The Catalan is standing knee-deep in a puddle and looking for something.
What are you looking for?
50 cents fell into a puddle.
And all this for 50 cents? It's like you lost 50 Euros.
For 50 Euros I would drink this puddle.

What does a Catalan do if he finds a band-aid on the street?
It will be specially cut to be used.

After reading such jokes, where the attitude of the Spaniards towards the Catalans is expressed, to put it mildly, without much sympathy, you may get the impression that the Catalans are gloomy, greedy and unfriendly people. However, this is not at all true. For example, when I asked one Catalan woman about her impressions of a business trip to Moscow, she replied:

I didn’t feel very comfortable. No one kisses, no one says hello, everyone is silent.

Yes, don’t be surprised when I worked with the Spaniards, it was customary to kiss at work:

• when meeting
• when an employee went on vacation
• when the employee returned from vacation
• and on any other occasion that seems appropriate

However, such customs are no longer truly Catalan; they are characteristic of the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula as a whole. And that's a completely different story.

Shestakova Natalia