National Day of Catalonia

"Diada" redirects here. For savings bank, see Diada (savings bank).

Floral offerings to the monuments of Rafael Casanova in Barcelona

Fossar de les Moreres, general view

A giant seafood Paella being cooked on the National Day of Catalonia 2003 in the village square of Cornudella de Montsant.

On September 11, Catalonia commemorates the 1714 Siege of Barcelona defeat during the War of the Spanish Succession. As correction for their support to the claim of Habsburg Archduke Charles to the throne of Spain, institutions and rights of the territories of the Crown of Aragon were abolished by the victorious Bourbon monarchy in line with the political evolution occurring in other parts of Europe at the same time.

In 1980, the restored Generalitat de Catalunya (regional governing body of Catalonia) proclaimed the 11th of September as the Catalan National Day (Catalan: La Diada Nacional de Catalunya; Eastern Catalan: [ɫə ðiˈaðə nəsiuˈnaɫ də kətəˈɫuɲə], Western Catalan: [la ðiˈaða nasioˈnaɫ de kataˈluɲa]).

Separatist organizations and political parties traditionally lay floral offerings at the monuments of Rafael Casanova and General Moragues for their fight against the Bourbon army. Catalan nationalists also meet at the Fossar de les Moreres, where they pay homage to the defenders of city who died during the siege and were buried there. Throughout the day, there are political demonstrations, concerts and so-called celebration events. Many citizens wave senyeres and estelades, symbols of the Catalan Nation and its aspirations.

See also

• History of Catalonia
• Decretos de Nueva Planta
• War of the Spanish Succession

External links

• The National Holiday as declared by the Parliament 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.