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 atalà
burro, gavatx porc ! This traditional invective form of humour,
which sets a scene of the Catalan donkey and the Languedocian
pork, represents the popular image of the North Catalans as
opposed to their neighbours in the French Languedoc regions
of the Aude, the Ariège and the Hérault.
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The
Catalan donkey, a species recognised and protected, has been
exported to numerous countries to help improve their own species,
particularly in the USA where breeding has created the variety
‘Kentucky-Catalan donkey.’ Nevertheless, the Catalan donkey
does not know a human equivalent, for the real Catalan has nothing
to do with ethnicity. On the contrary, beyond the differences
of origins, there exists a character common to the inhabitants,
thus showing the existence of a group mentality which normally
exists only among people in defined states. The Catalan character
seems to allow comparison with the virtues of the donkey: tenacity,
determination, eagerness for the task and loyalty. These traits
don’t limit themselves to the simple penchant for stubbornness
that feeds the clichés. More literally, the Catalan population
defines itself by the double value: ‘El senya i rauxa.’ The
seny is comparable with wisdom, measured judgment and common
sense – and the rauxa is defined as wit, the determination to
suddenly see the capricious thought. The alliance between these
two facets in one individual is the source of Catalan behaviour.
The character conveys itself, it shares itself and it perceives
itself popularly – its’ identity’s worth is certain. Used for
a long time in North Catalonia and now channeled into the economy
and in the spirit of rugby carried by the slogan ‘sempre endavant’
(always going forward) this character is what drives the success
in South Catalonia (Barcelona). As images of national identity,
the sympathetic burro Català is the emblem of Catalonia
– equivalent to the French rooster, the Australian kangaroo
and the Spanish bull.
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