Symbolism evokes identity in a culture or a group of individuals, it inspires, creates passion and camaraderie bringing people together on a united front. Take the cross for example, which represents several religious groups or the power of marketing symbols: McDonald’s golden arch, or Nike’s onomatopoeic “swish” which are so embedded in global society that we need only to see the sign to know what it represents.

And then there are symbols which are more human in nature, relaying our feelings to another in a single gesture: take the two finger gesticulation for instance, depending on which way the fingers are poised, the gesture can mean either peace, victory or go away. There are a multitude of signs and symbols in operation in the world today and in Catalunya there is no exception.

Catalan culture holds a multitude of symbols which are common to the entire Catalan region. The most recent of these would have to be el burro that you have undoubtedly seen on the rear end of cars (quite appropriate when you think of the donkey’s cousin the ass), in Barcelona’s busy streets flashing past or ducking onto a side street. Then there are of course the more traditional symbols that represent Catalunya, to name a few there is all i oli which graces many a meat dish or the delicious calçots which are an institution on their own. These are all part of the Catalan culture but the collective representation of the Catalan flag is unequivocally the cornerstone of all symbols in Catalunya.

The flag’s origins date back to Count Guifré in the 10th Century A.D. when the Count was injured by the Normans whilst fighting for Carolingien Charles Le Chauve. Charles Le Chauve visited the dying Count and dipped his fingers into his wound whereupon he wiped his bloodied fingers down the Count’s golden shield leaving behind four red bars upon a golden background. This powerful image is of course now a flag which has remained throughout the centuries. It can be seen not only in Catalunya but in Aragon and Valencia as well and is one of the oldest flags in Europe and the world alike.

Similar to New Zealand’s Kiwi, England’s red rose or the French’s rooster the Catalan donkey is a symbol of identity for the autonomous region of Catalunya. If you are residing in Catalunya you have no doubt seen the donkey sticker on the back of cars which commonly seen as a reaction to the bull symbol of Spain. This bull sign has its origins in Osbourne’s whiskey which became a symbol for Spain after Osbourne’s put up huge silhouettes of bulls alongside the highways (some of which have been defaced by over zealous individuals or maybe Osbourne’s rivals in the market place or maybe a combination of both). There are also stickers representing cats and the infamous “Copito de nieve”, the white gorilla which resided in the Barcelona zoo for a number of years.

¡Catalá burro, gavatx porc! This saying comes from the north of Catalunya where the donkey represents the Catalans whereas the Languedocian pork of the French regions Aude, the Ariège and the Hérault stand for the French who are neighbours to the northern Catalans. It seems that this humour is indicative of the Catalan’s character and could be compared to that of the donkey whose virtues are seen as tenacity, determination, enthusiasm and loyalty but also, we can’t forget the donkey’s fame as being a stubborn creature. These, that and this are all to be taken with a grain of salt of course for everyone has had these characteristics to varying degrees and at some point in life.

On a more serious note, Catalunya and Catalans have always aspired for more autonomy and in some cases independence from Spain, with this in mind, coupled with the strong use of symbolism as a means to create identity then half the battle has already been won: people identify with images and this brings people together on a united front. Apart from the Catalan flag a lot of Catalunya’s symbolism is playful and teasing, always evoking a response. In short, all Catalan symbolism, whether it evokes a negative or positive response is superfluous for in the end a response is what is sought, in doing so people are talking, the issues at hand are discussed so that they are always at the forefront, always contemporary, without this continuous dialogue nothing would ever be achieved.