Catalan Country
France is very
diverse, both in terms of its geography and the history of the people who have
created it. Over time, various groups blended together into what is now referred
to as the Hexagon including the
Bretons, Alsatians, and Basques, to name but three. As current residents of
Collioure, we have seen several vestiges of the Catalan heritage which made me
curious to learn more about the area’s past.
The founder
of Catalunya, as it is called in
Catalan, was granted the inglorious moniker of Wilfred the Hairy, Guifré el
Pelós. Although this 9th century count apparently truly merited his
furry nickname right down to the bottom of his feet, he was also quite the clever
guy. To build his empire, he was somehow able to seize land from noblemen along
the Mediterranean coast without angering the French king. And besides, ole Wilfred
had the brilliant idea of giving financial support to local monks who chronicled
his bravery in written accounts and in songs, forever preserving his name. Even
his death entered into the history books in a powerful way. While defending his
capital at Barcelona, Wilfred was killed and his four bloody fingers were streaked across
his gold shield, creating the striking image prevalent on many area flags of
today.
As in many
other regions of France, the native language is quickly disappearing. Street signs
in our town are nearly all in both French and Catalan. And there is, somewhat
surprisingly, a short newscast in the language on TV every Saturday evening. Otherwise,
traces of the past are primarily cultural. One afternoon we saw a performance
of the sardana, a typical traditional
dance with a live band. To begin with, a single person raises his hands and
begins dancing to the music; gradually others, many wearing espadrilles, join
in, forming large circles of men and women holding hands. It all seemed kind of
mystifying to us outsiders about when the different parts of the dance change.
I have since learned that the original person is counting the steps and directs
the others…kind of like a caller in square dancing, I suppose.
Probably the
main link to the culture is in the cuisine. Many Catalan
dishes are highly prized and can be found on restaurant menus. Inland areas use a lot of pork and beans such as in the
salpiquet or the ouillade. Along the coast, of course, fish is the principal ingredient with Collioure
being the anchovy capital. We are here for the Easter season when local folks
prepare a fried dough dessert spelled in many different ways but called
bugnette. We went to the cultural center the other day where elementary school
kids were frying and eating the sweet treat. And we were even given a sample.
1 comments:
Versalini's face and body spa therapy is a hidden gem for anyone seeking a profound sense of well-being. Their therapists possess the gift of touch that can release the tension in your muscles and leave you feeling completely at ease. It's more than a massage; it's a holistic experience.
Post a Comment