our flag
The Catalan flag was originally the Standard of the Count of Barcelona. The first historical references to it date back to the 13th Century, but we believe our flag is older than that. Evidence of different sorts points out that, in fact, it was among the first ones to be created in Europe. In the old days, the stripes could be oriented either vertically or or horizontally. The latter arrangement was eventually established, thus becoming our official flag: five red stripes and five yellow stripes, all of them having the same width.
Els segadors. Music.
Els Segadors is the Catalan national anthem since the
late 1800´s. The lyrics that are sung today are by Emili Guanyavents, who wrote them in
1899. He used some elements that had been transmitted from mouth to mouth (which writer
and linguist Manuel Milà i Fontanals had gathered in 1882.) The music was added by
Francesc Alió, who wrote it in 1892. He, in turn, used the melody of an old popular song.
The background for Els Segadors is a song about the historic events that
took place between 1639 and 1640: the Catalans waged war against King Felipe IV of Spain
(of the Borbon family), and the role of the peasants and farmers of the time was just
capital. The latter were defeated, but they had fought hard against the oppresor.
The anthem is a song of freedom and love for the country. The people who join their voices
to sing it every 11th September also share their belief in a powerful Catalan nation that
will be politically autonomous sooner or later.
ELS SEGADORS
(Please see the note in English at the botom of page.)
Catalunya triomfant,
tornarà a ser rica i plena.
Endarrera aquesta gent
tan ufana i tan superba.
Bon cop de falç,
defensors de la terra.
Bon cop de falç!
Que tremoli l´enemic
en veient la nostra ensenya.
Per quan vingui un altre juny
esmolem ben bé les eines.
Bon cop de falç,
defensors de la terra.
Bon cop de falç!
Ara és hora, segadors.
Ara és hora d´estar alerta.
Com fem caure espigues d´or,
quan convé seguem cadenes.
Note: IN A FEW WORDS, this means that "Our dear Catalonia will be rich and glorious one day. Our enemies should be careful...we, the harvesters and the peasants, may cut plants with our sickles, as well as the chains that tie us."