Catalonia - territory with a complex political situation.It is part of Spain, but many people believe in the need for independence.Not surprisingly, the local symbols have a special relationship.
cloth is named
Residents love the flag of Catalonia with all my heart.They hang it on houses, decorated with souvenirs they make figurines in his colors.In cities throughout the region, you can see the flag of Catalonia - a photo of him is, perhaps, everyone who has ever been to Barcelona.But if the love of the locals are not alone - the Americans, too, like the state symbols - the other features make a unique standard.The fact that he has a name.Catalans and Valencia called him "lord", recalling the ancient mighty Kingdom of Aragon.In the local dialect the name means a flag, banner, symbol.The lord is the official cloth, which can be seen even in the form of football teams.The main colors are yellow or gold, complete with four-lane red.Aragonese modern version by the absence of the image of the emblem.The flag of Valencia additional strip is blue and gold crown from the shaft.
Origin flag
official version of the appearance of the lord no.But there are a variety of theories that are often even become causes of conflict.Especially acute is the theme of the time of the flags of Valencia, Aragon, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, which are really similar.It is difficult to make an unambiguous conclusion.Locals believe the flag of Catalonia, unique, one probably should not argue with them, better to just pay attention to their legend.There is a theory that the lord appeared in 878, when Gifre Pelosi became the Count of Barcelona, Girona and Besalú.However, the first mention in documents dated 1082 year.The figures of those years have the coat of arms of Count - four red stripes on a gold background.Later, they were used in all the Principality.This makes the flag of Catalonia, one of the oldest in Europe.
French theory
According to some opinions, the flag of Catalonia is of French origin.Four red stripes represent the county of Carcassonne.Also, sometimes it is believed that they symbolize the Papacy.The fact that the red and yellow have long been symbols of the bishopric.As you know, the kings of Aragon and Barcelona earlier were "bearers of the Pope."The old flag of Catalonia can be seen on the coins in 1150.They depict the symbols of Barcelona.Whatever it was, officially lord took in the eighteenth century.For a while the Catalan flag was banned, but was soon returned to use.It is used as an element of decor despite the fact that officially the whole country should use a common Spanish banner.For Catalans lord is a symbol of patriotism and independence.It is necessary to distinguish the flag of Catalonia with a star on the color - if it is on a blue background, this nationalist flag, and if on a yellow - the Socialists.
Legend of the lord
There is also a special story about the lord.She has more than five centuries.According to legend, Count Gifre Pelosi and King Carlos Calvo second war against the Normans, and in the first battle was mortally wounded.He asked for a shield.Carlos handed him a hero left bloody stripes on the shield fingers.So it has turned out a sign of courage, bravery and friendship, which later became the lord.There are other versions of artistic interpretation of symbols.For example, in the paintings of some of the Catalan masters can see the riders in red robes, traveling on horseback across the golden wheat - a figure also strongly resembles the flag of Catalonia.
