Tomorrow is
the 11th September, a day on which 298 years ago Catalonia lost its
independence (that’s cutting a long story VERY short, but history ain’t my best
subject). This defeat is commemorated every year on this day, the National Day
of Catalonia (i.e. a bank holiday). Apart from the usual formal political
speeches, there is always a march in Barcelona with the aim of showing support
for Catalonia to regain its independence.
This
feeling has been growing and growing over the 20 years I’ve been here and now
it looks like the break-away option is getting closer and closer .... This
year’s march promises to be a belter, with over one million people expected to
take part (in a nation of 7 million).
Digressing
for a moment - on our summer break in the UK we visited the Yorkshire Sculpture
Park, which this year is showing an
exhibition of work by the Catalan artist, Joan Miró. A great time was had, a
wonderful park, great art and great walking, and grand food! While there we
read that the Park would be organising a special activity on the 11th
to celebrate Catalonia’s National Day. To quote the Barnsley Chronicle – “ The
national Catalan Day commemorates the 1714 siege of Barcelona defeat that meant
the loss of independence, the abolition of all Catalan institutions,
constitutions, rights and freedoms, and the beginning of a centuries-long
suppression of its culture, traditions and language. Sculptor Joan Miró was
rooted in a deep sense of national Catalan identity and his work is often
personal, celebrating his Catalan identity ...”.
So if you
can’t make it to Barcelona tomorrow, try the Sculpture Park – failing that raise
a glass of Catalan wine or cava for the soon-to-become next EU member state!
....
Cada any des que
estic aquí es nota que les ganes i les possibilitats de l’independència de
Catalunya estan creixent, encara que en apunts anteriors he dit el mateix i encara
estic esperant tal dia ... a vore si demà el crit del 11 de setembre és prou
fort per fer reaccionar el nostre Parlament.
Aquest estiu hem
estat al Yorkshire Sculpture Park, un lloc preciós, on aquest any estan fent
una exhibició especial de la obra de Miró. Mentre estàvem allí, vam llegir que
també volen celebrar la Diada demà amb uns actes especials sobre l’artista. I
al diari local, el Barnsley Chronicle, han dit això: “La diada del 11 de
setembre commemora la derrota al 1714 que va significar la perdua de
l’independencia, l’abolició de les institucions, constitucions, drets i
llibertats, i el començament de segles de supressió de la cultura, la llengua i les
tradicions de Catalunya”.
En fi, que poc a
poc la situació de Catalunya es va coneixent pel món!
