Lorraine Williamson
Every year on 11 September, Catalonia pauses to honour its past and assert its identity. Known as La Diada, the date recalls the fall of Barcelona in 1714, a moment that reshaped the region’s political destiny and continues to fuel debates about Catalonia’s place within Spain.
The day is not just about mourning a defeat. For many Catalans, it represents hope, pride, and resilience—a collective reaffirmation of belonging and, increasingly, a stage for calls for self-determination.
The roots of La Diada
The origins of the commemoration lie in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). Catalonia, once granted rights of self-government under the Spanish crown, sided with the Habsburg Archduke Charles in the hope of securing greater independence. England and other European allies backed this cause. However, after the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, Catalonia was left to fight alone.
Barcelona endured a year-long siege by the Bourbon forces of Felipe V. On 11 September 1714, the city fell. With it, Catalonia lost its historic institutions, laws, and linguistic freedoms. The memory of this loss became central to the Catalan narrative.
Symbols of sacrifice
In Barcelona, commemoration sites tell the story of resistance. The monument to Rafael Casanova, the city’s defender, is adorned with flowers each year. At the Fossar de les Moreres, where those killed in battle are buried, an eternal flame burns to honour their sacrifice.
Nearby, beneath the Mercat del Born, the ruins of the old city remain—a tangible reminder of the cost of 1714 and the endurance of Catalan identity.
From mourning to movement
Although the first official Diada was marked in 1886, its meaning has evolved with each generation. Under Franco’s dictatorship, the day was banned, yet it survived underground as a quiet act of resistance. After Spain’s return to democracy, La Diada re-emerged as a legal and public commemoration.
Today, it carries a dual weight: a cultural celebration of Catalonia’s history and a political rallying point for those demanding greater autonomy or outright independence. Massive demonstrations, organised by civic groups and political parties alike, often fill Barcelona’s streets with flags, chants, and human chains of solidarity.
La Diada today
For Catalans, La Diada is not simply a holiday but a living tradition. It is a day to reflect on centuries of struggle, celebrate language and culture, and debate the region´s future. While its meaning may differ across political lines, the day remains a powerful expression of identity, unity, and resilience.
This year, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sought to strike a conciliatory note in his message on X. He wrote: “Aquest Onze de Setembre celebrem la Catalunya de tots i de totes: oberta, plural i amb ambició de futur. Convivència, respecte i progrés compartit perquè els catalans i les catalanes segueixin avançant. Bona Diada!”
(“This 11 September, we celebrate the Catalonia of everyone: open, diverse and ambitious for the future. Coexistence, respect, and shared progress so that Catalans continue to move forward. Happy Diada!”)
As long as questions of autonomy and independence remain unresolved, La Diada will continue to resonate—not only as a remembrance of 1714, but as a reminder that Catalonia’s story is still being written.
Sources: Catalunya, National Geographic