Catalonia National Day Celebrations
The Catalan National Day (La Diada) is celebrated on the 11th September. It is now a celebration but it was on this fateful day in 1714 that the Catalans surrendered their independence and freedom, after a long resistance, to the centralist Spanish regime.
For more than a year the city of Barcelona was held captive and trapped within the city walls by troops loyal to the Spanish King. The resistance was led by the town counsellor, Rafael Casanova. But by the 11th September 1714 they were completely surrounded and outnumbered, and they surrendered. In essence the Catalans suffered the loss of their legal, political, linguistic and cultural rights.
On this day the estelada flag can be seen everywhere: young and old waving flags, flags draped and tied to people’s backs, and flags hanging from balconies and buses everywhere. This is the unofficial flag of Catalonia which bears an additional five-pointed star in a triangle, emblematic of the Catalan independists who want independence of the Catalan regions (Països Catalans) from the central Spanish government.
During the years of Franco’s repression through the unrelenting stand by the then President Aznar towards Catalonia’s wish for independence many demonstrations took place. But with President Zapatero’s accommodating attitude towards independist sentiments, things have calmed down considerably.
The main celebrations of the Diada can be seen on the Plaça Sant Jaume, where the Generalitat (the Catalan government) building is. But festivities and street parades take place all over the city in most barris, or neighbourhoods, where the Catalan national anthem, Els Segadors, can be heard being played and sung over and over again. The traditional Catalan dance, the sardana, danced with traditional, live music on the gralla is very popular on this day. A big favorite with the crowds are the castellers displays. These are amazing human towers built by standing on one another’s shoulders which can reach up to nine or ten stories. It is a centuries old tradition that is carried on to this day. Castellers teams train weekly as different teams also compete regularly to build the highest human tower.
Every year part of the National Day celebrations consists of the laying of flowers at the statue of Rafael Casanova in Sant Boi, a suburb of Barcelona. Barcelona residents also flock to the Parc de Cuitadella where monuments for national heroes Rafael Casanova and Josep Moragues can be seen. An eternal flame for those who died in the defeat of 1714 burns all year round in the city, in the square next to Santa Maria del Mar, and is knows as the Fossar de les Moreres.
The celebrations of the day usually close with free musical concerts by top artists in different parts of the city on full, professional stages. As the warm temperatures during the month of September in Catalonia are perfect for going out, these concerts prove to be very popular.
