Hola reader,
Did you know Barcelona has its own language (in addition to Spanish), flag, and cultural pride, unlike anywhere else in Spain? Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region, and we've enjoyed learning about the unique traditions and customs here.💕
Before we get to that- here are a few fun pictures of our recent adventures!❤️
Jeff and I are standing in front of the La Sagrada Familia, and the kids are posing at Parc Guell.⤵️
Below we are in front of the cathedral of Barcelona and walking the streets in the El Born district.😊 We can't get enough of the older parts of town and all of the beautiful buildings!
Here are 4 fascinating differences I've noticed living in Catalonia:
#1 Language: Catalan vs. Spanish
While Spanish (Castellano) is spoken by almost everyone, Catalan is the primary language for locals in this region of Spain. It's used in schools, stores, street signs, and even day-to-day conversations. Catalan isn't a Spanish dialect—it's its own language, with roots closer to French and Italian.
We often hear people seamlessly switching between Catalan and Spanish (especially the kid's friends), and while most locals are happy to help in Spanish, learning a few Catalan phrases like Bon dia (Good morning) or adéu (goodbye) earns us a warm smile.🥰
#2 Independent Pride
Walking through Barcelona streets, you can feel the pride Catalans have for their city. One of our first experiences at a festival downtown caught us in the middle of a huge demonstration around Catalonia's independence movement. Barcelona residents are passionate about preserving their culture and traditions.
#3 Festivals and Traditions: there are many that are unique to Catalonia, but here are two of my favorites:
❤️Castells (Human Towers pictured above)
This is wild. Imagine a group of people stacking on top of each other, climbing up like it's nothing, and forming massive human towers. When you watch it, you'll be holding your breath!
This event happens during La Mercè Festival, a party in Barcelona with music, parades, fireworks, plus correfocs (people dressed as fire-breathing devils run around with sparklers and firecrackers)!
❤️La Diada de Sant Jordi is Catalonia's version of Valentine's Day, but I think they do it better! On April 23rd, Barcelona fills with stalls selling roses and books—it's a day of love and literature unique to Catalonia.
#4 Food (again, there are many, but here are a few we have loved):
Crema Catalana: it's similar to crème brûlée but made with lemon zest and cinnamon. It's delicious! I hope to create an authentic recipe soon, but in the meantime, this one is from my friend, Suzy, at the Mediterranean Dish.
Vichy Catalan: I consider myself a sparkling water connoisseur (thanks to my Dad, who always had it around), but I think Vichy Catalan is simply the BEST Sparking Water that exists. It is probably the most famous and iconic sparkling water in Spain!
Canelons (Catalan-style) – are like Spain's version of manicotti, with meat stuffed in pasta tubes, with a bechamel sauce and cheese on top. They're especially popular for Christmas or New Year's feasts.
Living in Barcelona has given me a new appreciation for Catalonia's identity and all it has to offer.
Have you ever visited Barcelona or Catalonia? What's something that stood out to you about this unique part of Spain?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!💗
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