CataloniaCatalonia

General characteristicsGeneral characteristics

Catalonia is one of the seventeen autonomous Catalonia is one of the seventeen autonomous regions in Spain. regions in Spain.

Catalonia comprises four provinces: Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona.

The area of Catalonia is of 32,114 kmThe area of Catalonia is of 32,114 km22 and has and has a population of 7,504,881.a population of 7,504,881.

The official languages are Spanish, Catalan The official languages are Spanish, Catalan and Aranese.and Aranese.

GeographyGeography

Catalonia borders Catalonia borders France and Andorra France and Andorra to the north, Aragon to the north, Aragon to the west, the to the west, the Valencian Valencian Community to the Community to the south, and the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to Mediterranean Sea to the est.the est.

EtymologyEtymology

The name Catalunya began to be used in the The name Catalunya began to be used in the 12th century. The origin of the term is subject 12th century. The origin of the term is subject to diverse interpretation:to diverse interpretation:

--CatalunyaCatalunya derives from the term derives from the term "Land of "Land of Castles"Castles" having evolved from the term having evolved from the term castlàcastlà..

--CatalunyaCatalunya derives from the name derives from the name GothiaGothia "Land of the Goths’’"Land of the Goths’’::GothlandGothland > > GothlandiaGothlandia > > GothalaniaGothalania > > Catalonia.Catalonia.

ClimateClimate The climate of Catalonia is The climate of Catalonia is

diverse. The populated areas diverse. The populated areas lying by the coast in Provinces of lying by the coast in Provinces of Tarragona, Barcelona, and Tarragona, Barcelona, and Girona. feature a Mediterranean Girona. feature a Mediterranean climate. The inland part climate. The inland part (including the Lleida Province) (including the Lleida Province) and the inner part of Barcelona and the inner part of Barcelona Province) show a mostly Province) show a mostly continental Mediterranean continental Mediterranean climate. The Pyreneean peaks climate. The Pyreneean peaks have a mountain or even Alpine have a mountain or even Alpine climate at the highest summits. climate at the highest summits.

LanguagesLanguages

Spanish and Catalan are the Spanish and Catalan are the main languages spoken in main languages spoken in Catalonia. Catalonia.

The Statute of Autonomy of The Statute of Autonomy of 1979 declares the 1979 declares the CatalanCatalan the the native language of Catalonia.native language of Catalonia.

Aranese (a dialect of Gascon Aranese (a dialect of Gascon Occitan) has been official and Occitan) has been official and subject to special protection in subject to special protection in the Aran Valley.the Aran Valley.

Catalan cuisineCatalan cuisine It’s a Mediterranean cuisine.It’s a Mediterranean cuisine. Typical dishes: Typical dishes:

--EscudellaEscudella (soup with pasta and minced meats and vegetables). (soup with pasta and minced meats and vegetables).

--Pa amb tomàquetPa amb tomàquet (bread smeared with an olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce) (bread smeared with an olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce)

--Cargols a la llaunaCargols a la llauna (cooked snails). (cooked snails).

--Calçots Calçots (specially cultivated onions, grilled and served as a (specially cultivated onions, grilled and served as a "Calçotada""Calçotada") )

--Mongetes amb botifarraMongetes amb botifarra (beans and pork sausage) (beans and pork sausage)

--AllioliAllioli (a thick sauce made of garlic and olive oil). (a thick sauce made of garlic and olive oil).

--Crema catalanaCrema catalana (the famous yellow cream made with yolks, milk and (the famous yellow cream made with yolks, milk and sugar).sugar).

--Mel i matóMel i mató, a dessert of mató cheese with honey., a dessert of mató cheese with honey.

--PanelletsPanellets ( (small pastries made of pine nuts, almonds and sugar with different small pastries made of pine nuts, almonds and sugar with different shapes and flavors, eaten during la shapes and flavors, eaten during la CastanyadaCastanyada, on 1 November)., on 1 November).

Pa amb tomàquet. Calçots.Pa amb tomàquet. Calçots.

Mongetes amb botifarra. Crema catalanaMongetes amb botifarra. Crema catalana

Popular culturePopular culture

Traditions of Catalonia:Traditions of Catalonia: There are quite a number of There are quite a number of

festivals and traditions in festivals and traditions in Catalonia. While most are Catalonia. While most are of ancient origin, certain of ancient origin, certain traditions are of relatively traditions are of relatively recent introduction. There recent introduction. There are also some that are are also some that are common to the whole common to the whole Catalan society, but others Catalan society, but others are relevant only to a are relevant only to a particular location. particular location. Generally, locals welcome Generally, locals welcome outsiders to share with them outsiders to share with them in their celebration.in their celebration.

Festivals and celebrations:Festivals and celebrations: - - The correfocsThe correfocs. People dancing to the . People dancing to the

sound of drums and the traditional gralla, sound of drums and the traditional gralla, while they set off their fireworks.while they set off their fireworks.

- - The St. George DayThe St. George Day (“Sant Jordi”) in (“Sant Jordi”) in which men give roses (mostly in a deep which men give roses (mostly in a deep red color) to women, and women give a red color) to women, and women give a book to men as a present. That day is also book to men as a present. That day is also known as known as "Dia del Llibre""Dia del Llibre" (Book Day), (Book Day), coinciding with the anniversaries of the coinciding with the anniversaries of the deaths of William Shakespeare, Miguel de deaths of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Josep Pla. Cervantes and Josep Pla.

- - The colles castelleresThe colles castelleres is the most is the most spectacular of the Catalan festivals. They spectacular of the Catalan festivals. They are groups of enthusiasts who form are groups of enthusiasts who form impressive human towers (up to ten impressive human towers (up to ten people high). This is an old tradition of people high). This is an old tradition of the Tarragona region.the Tarragona region.

- - The National Day of CataloniaThe National Day of Catalonia, on , on September 11. September 11.

Dance and music:Dance and music: Among the musical traditions, there are Among the musical traditions, there are LesLes

SardanesSardanes. The . The sardanasardana is a circular, open is a circular, open dance, that originated in the Empordà region dance, that originated in the Empordà region (north of the country) and the Pyrenees, and (north of the country) and the Pyrenees, and is now danced in many squares and streets all is now danced in many squares and streets all over Catalonia.over Catalonia.

Popular folk songs include "El Rossinyol", Popular folk songs include "El Rossinyol", "La Balanguera", "La Santa Espina", "La Balanguera", "La Santa Espina", "Virolai" and "El Cant dels Ocells".. Some of "Virolai" and "El Cant dels Ocells".. Some of those songs became popular all over the those songs became popular all over the world with the success of the choir around world with the success of the choir around the beginning of the 20th century. Another the beginning of the 20th century. Another song, created by the present singer Lluís song, created by the present singer Lluís Llach, Llach, L'EstacaL'Estaca, also gained sudden , also gained sudden recognition as expressing the national feeling recognition as expressing the national feeling of Catalans. of Catalans.

Another important Catalan musical tradition Another important Catalan musical tradition is the singing of is the singing of HavaneresHavaneres and burning and burning rhum together which often happens rhum together which often happens simultaneously.simultaneously.