National Day of Catalonia
| National Day of Catalonia | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Catalan: Diada Nacional de Catalunya |
| Observed by | Catalonia, Spain |
| Date | 11 September |
| Next time | 11 September 2015 |
| Frequency | annual |
The National Day of Catalonia[1] (Catalan: Diada Nacional de Catalunya [diˈaðə nəsiuˈnaɫ də kətəˈɫuɲə]) is a day-long festival in Catalonia. It commemorates the defeat of Catalonia during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Catalan troops that initially fought in support of the Habsburg dynasty's claim to the Spanish throne were finally defeated at the Siege of Barcelona by the army of the Borbon king Philip V of Spain on 11 September 1714 after 14 months of siege. That meant the loss of the Catalan constitutions under the aegis of the Nueva Planta decrees. The holiday was first celebrated in 11 September 1886, was suppressed by the Franco dictatorship in 1939 and reinstated in 1980 by the regional government of Catalonia, the Generalitat de Catalunya, upon its restoration after the Franco dictatorship.[2]
Independentist organizations and political parties traditionally lay floral offerings at the monuments of the leaders of the defence of the city Rafael Casanova and General Moragues for their fight against the king Philip V of Spain. Typically, Catalan nationalists organize demonstrations and meet at the Fossar de les Moreres of Barcelona, where they pay homage to the defenders of city who died during the siege and were buried there. Throughout the day, there are independentist demonstrations and cultural events in most of Catalan villages and many citizens wave senyeres and estelades.
See also
- Els Segadors
- History of Catalonia
- Decretos de Nueva Planta
- War of the Spanish Succession
External links
- National Day of Catalonia
- Documents about the case of the catalans dated on 1714, at the House of Lords, UK.
- Journal of the House of Lords: volume 19, 2 August 1715, Further Articles of Impeachment against E. Oxford brought from H.C. Article VI.