scraps of our culture

SHARING OUR TRADITIONS

WE LIVE IN CATALONIA.CATALONIA IS A REGION OF SPAIN, AN AUTONOMOUS COMUNITY.

CATALAN IS OUR LANGUAGE, CO-OFFICIAL WITH SPANISH.

THIS IS OUR FLAG:

Folkloric festival elementsREUS is the name of our town

Local festivities: Sept 25th Misericòrdia Jun 29th Sant Pere

Els CastellersHuman towers are built at festivities in our

region.

They are very impressive.

The tower is achieved when they succeed in building up and taking it down.

Very moving!

Symbolism:

Team work and cooperation is the best way to go high and achieve your aim.

Giants and Dwarfs

Beasts and Folkloric dances

Fireworks

Traditional Food

Products: Hazelnuts, olive oil, wine...

Traditional dishes:CALÇOTS (SWEET ONIONS) EL MENJABLANC (A TYPE OF WHITE CREAM MADE WITH ALMOND MILK)

PA AMB TOMÀQUET (BREAD RUBBED WITH RIPE TOMATO AND DRIZZLED WITH OLIVE OIL AND A BIT OF SALT)

CALÇOTS

PA AMB TOMÀQUET

MENJABLANC

OTHER FESTIVALS:

October 31st :La Castanyada The name comes from castanya (chestnut)We eat toasted chestnuts and we also make “panellets”, a type of buiscuitsmostly dressed with pine nuts or almonds. Sweet Potatoes are also eaten around this festivity.

CHRISTMAS

El “CAGA, TIÓ” (Christmas Log, shit!) Catalan tradition

The Tió (log) is covered with a blanket to keep him warm.The children gather around the log (Tió) singing a traditional song and beat him with a wooden stick. When the song is finished the kids take out the blanket and they get some little presents (sweets, little toys...)

April 23rd: SANT JORDI

DAY OF CULTURE AND DAY OF LOVE ( It's our Valentine's day) Saint George is one of the most important celebrationsin Catalonia.

• Men give women roses and women give men books.

EASTER

La Mona:One of the Easter traditions in Catalonia is that onEaster Sunday the Godfather gives his Godchild "La Mona", an Easter cake with a chocolate Egg, or another chocolatefigure.

June 23rd: SANT JOAN

It's the night of fire: fireworks and bonfires are lightedin streets and cottages..

Traditional Food: COCA DE SANT JOAN