An identity that goes beyond borders
If someone has told you that being Catalan is only about being born in Catalonia, they have deceived you. Being Catalan is much more than that. It is an identity that crosses borders and is based on a deep feeling of belonging and connection with the culture and history of Catalonia. It is a way of being, a state of mind that unites all those who sit in it and are imbued with its essence.
Be excited by the cultural wealth
To be Catalan is to be moved by the literature, music and traditions of Catalonia. It is to remember with tenderness the characters who have marked our culture, such as Teresa Clarís, Peris or Merlí. It’s reviving the afternoons spent doing laundry with Mari Pau Huguet. It is singing with passion the Stake and knowing the bourgeois miseries of the Valldaura-Farriols family. The cultural wealth of Catalonia excites us and makes us feel part of a unique community.
Language as a tool of identity
A fundamental part of being Catalan is the language. Learning and speaking Catalan is a way to connect with our identity and preserve our culture. It’s remembering the repeated episodes of Dirty Dishes and repeating the expressions that appear in the APM. It is enjoying the literary richness of our language and participating in the major festivals that unite us as a community. The Catalan language is a powerful tool that allows us to express ourselves and connect with other Catalans.
The gastronomy that makes us lick our fingers
To be Catalan is to enjoy the Mediterranean and sybarite gastronomy that Catalonia offers us. From Maresme strawberries to l’Escala anchovies, our cuisine is an explosion of flavors and textures that makes us lick our fingers. It is discovering the secrets of Catalan cuisine and experimenting with traditional dishes and their modern variants. Catalan gastronomy is a reflection of our identity and a way to connect with our roots.
Catalan addiction as proof of love
To be Catalan is to embrace the Catalan addiction, an unconditional love for everything Catalan. It is laughing with the occurrences of the APM and knowing every detail of our culture. It’s knowing that weak pronouns are infumable but not being able to live without them. It is accentuating goodbye and I am, although diacritical accents are less and less present. Catalan addiction is a test of love for our identity and a way of keeping our culture alive.
A test to measure your Catalan addiction
If you consider yourself a Catalan addict, now is your chance to test yourself. Luca Vals and Pedro Rodríguez have created a summer notebook, ‘Irreverent pastimes for Catalan addicts’, which will test your knowledge and love for Catalonia. With more than 80 activities in Catalan, this notebook will help you discover your level of Catalan addiction and have a fun and enriching time.
Conclusion
Being Catalan is a unique and enriching experience. It is connecting with our identity, getting excited about our culture and enjoying the wealth that Catalonia offers us. It’s embracing the Catalan addiction and putting our love for our land to the test. Being Catalan is a privilege and a responsibility, and invites us to preserve and strengthen our identity for future generations.