La Senyera

I mentioned in my previous post, I would take photos that would show how Catalunya was celebrating la Diada Nacional de Catalunya.

I was excited to gallivant anywhere in Barcelona for the day was sunny and just a slight tad to annoyance, humid.

I forged ahead and ahead and ahead, perspiring in a way that would make a truck driver proud.

Plaça de la Revolución
Barcelona, 2008

The town was eerily dead, silent and comatose. Not a political rally, nor music nor any other festivity to be seen or heard; just as if Garcia’s citizens had been sucked up by a powerful vacuum.

What the heck happened? Somewhere in this beautiful city, memorial services were held and I totally missed the WHOLE affair!!

Plaça de Rius y Taulet
Barcelona, 2008

I made an executive decision consisting of one to take photos of la Senyera, (the Catalan flag) with its 4 red bars on a yellow background.

Legend says that the 4 red bars represent the bloody fingers of a dying Catalan patriot as he scratched the earth. Actually, the colors represent the coat of arms from the king of Aragon.

La Senyera has such a colorful history that you might want to check out Wiki or some other source for I couldn't write about the flag any better than what I've read.

I roamed through the 5 major plaças in the heart of Gràcia and some side streets.

You might be interested to see the plaças you have read about and for those who've moved away maybe a bit of nostalgia.

Enjoy!!

View barcalunacy's La Diada Nacional de Catalunya, 2008 FLCKR photoset.

La Diada Nacional de Catalunya

I love Spain. They have a holiday practically every month and the natives here just got back from a month long vacation.

Memo: If you work for the American Consulate you get the United States’ and Spain’s federal and Catalunya’s holidays.

Forn de Sant Tirs (Gràcia)
Barcelona, 2008

Tomorrow, September 11th, is a holiday in Catalunya with festivities, political demonstrations, and concerts to be held through out the province.

It is a day to remind those of Catalonia’s fall on September 11, 1714 to Philip V, their eventual loss of self-government and condemnation of their language, further repressed during Franco’s regime.

Around 6 years after Franco’s death, the Government of Catalunya made September 11th the National Day of Catalonia or La Diada as it is commonly called.

For now, I upload a photo of pastries to give you a taste and flavor of the holiday. (Pun intended). The pastries are decorated in the colors of the Catalan flag.

Forn de Sant Tirs (Gràcia)
Barcelona, 2008

Come back tomorrow to see pictures of the festivities.

P.S. Ironically, the United States remembers its own 911 and I will never forget too.