11th September - throughout the region
Diada de Catalunya
The 11th September, the Diada de Catalunya, is a national holiday throughout Catalonia
and the Balearic Islands. This date is in fact the anniversary of the
day in 1714 when the Franco-Spanish
army captured Barcelona, bringing an
end to the region’s independence. From
political demonstrations to concerts,
fireworks, parades through the streets, castllers, gégants, sardanes
the day is punctuated in unique Catalan
style by sardanes, gégants and castellars
amongst other events. People wave
senyeres or estelades (Catalan flags)
and hang them on their balconies, and red and gold are the colours of the day.