11S, The National Day of Catalonia

Most of us, remember the 11^th September as one of the most terrible days in world’s history because of the suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States. But this has been a celebration day in Catalonia for many years. On 11^th September, centuries ago in 1714 to be exact, it commemorates the defeat it suffered at the hands of the Spanish troops commanded by Felipe V of Bourbon. It also remembers the abolition of the Catalan Institutions after the promulgation of the “Nueva Planta” Decrees, in 1716.

Catalonia, which had been a sovereign nation up to that point, lost its national freedoms, it language and it culture, these were totally banned.

In 1932 Catalonia acquired a Statute of Autonomy and recuperated some of its national rights. But after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s Dictatorship imposed the hardest repression ever lived in Catalonia. Some people even say that his regime was a cultural genocide. There were thousands of repatriates and many people were shot, such as the President of the Catalan Government, Lluís Companys, the only European president executed under Nazism-fascism.

In 1979 a new Statute of Autonomy was approved, giving the Catalan country its own institutions and government. Nowadays, most Catalan people still think Catalonia does not have a satisfactory autonomous government.

Celebration

This Celebration is defined as a political act of the civil society to celebrate the Catalan Diada in a festive way. Around 200 Catalan institutions make a special exhibition. In Addition a manifest is read. To close the event Catalan people listen to a concert.

The entities and the political parties make floral offerings to the monuments of Rafael Casanova and Josep Moragues. Other organizations and independence groups also present their offerings to the “Fossar de les Moreres”, a place where the defenders, who died during the siege of the city are buried. Many citizens hang on their balconies  Catalan flags called Señeras and sing the national anthem, Els Segadors.

Since 2003 the core act of institutional Diada is carried out by the Generalitat of Catalonia, celebrated at Ciutadella’s Park. This event invites national artist and singers to join the celebration with their music.

Every 11 September, many Catalans continue to demonstrate in the streets demanding  recognition of their national rights and liberties and a greater degree of self-government.

Agenda for 11^th September

10h: tribute to Gustau Muñoz [Ferran street]

11h: CAJEI political act [Fossar de les Moreres]

11.30h: Maulets politicak act [Passeig del Born]

13h: demostration for pilitical prisoners [Passeig del Born]

14h: `Botifarrada´ [Passeig del Born]

17h: DEMOSTRATION [Plaça Urquinaona]

19h: centra political actl [Passeig del Born]

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