Catalan language unites diversity during National Day ceremony

A ceremony under the title 'One language, many accents' marked the end of Catalonia's National Day festivities on Monday night, highlighting the diversity of the Catalan language and how it unites different cultures. 

The act started at 10 pm in the square in front of the ‘Quatre Columnes’ monument by architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch on at the Montjuïc hill in Barcelona. A dozen artists, including singers Miquel Abras, Pau Alabajos, Mercè Arànega, Luz Casal, or Alidé Sans, were among those who performed, showing off the richness and diversity of the Catalan language.

The show explained the use of the Catalan language across the different territories that speak Catalan, which also includes Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and a historic part of 'North Catalonia' that is now governed by France. 

The event combined music, a linguistic performance, sign language, and several audiovisual mappings to show the daily use of the language of millions of people. 

For the first time ever, the show was offered live in sign language using the same team that worked during Barcelona's Coldplay concerts, Encantades.

The ceremony honored the Valencian music group 'Al tall' with its song 'D'avui és el cantar' (The singing comes today). The hit was played by Vicent Torrent, one of the band's founders, accompanied by Pau Alabajos and Anna Villar.

The ceremony took place a few hours after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the center of Barcelona. 

As opposed to last year, Catalan president Pere Aragonès attended the march.