by Jordi, age 9, asks el Tio de Nadal do you have actual legs to walk around?, about the Pyrenees Mountains, and Catalonia’s own language
Dear el Tio de Nadal,
My name is Jordi and I am 9 years old. I live in Barcelona, Catalonia, where my family has kept a hollow log with a painted face sitting by our fireplace since the start of December, and we feed it a little bit every night.
First, do you have actual legs to walk around?
Second, a geography question: what mountain range separates Catalonia from France?
Third, a school question about my country: why does Catalonia have its own language, Catalan, alongside Spanish?
I left you a blanket and a small treat.
Love, Jordi, age 9, Barcelona, Catalonia, Barcelona, Catalonia
From the Desk of el Tio de Nadal
Dear Jordi, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you have actual legs to walk around?
Two small wooden front legs, propping me up by the fire, though I confess I rely on the family to move me from spot to spot.
What mountain range separates Catalonia from France?
The Pyrenees Mountains run along the border, separating Catalonia and the rest of Spain from France, and their snowy peaks make for a spectacular, jagged skyline as the sleigh crosses over on its way down toward Barcelona.
Why does Catalonia have its own language, Catalan, alongside Spanish?
Catalan developed as its own distinct language over many centuries, growing out of the same Latin roots as Spanish but evolving separately in this region of the Iberian Peninsula. Today Catalan is an official language alongside Spanish in Catalonia, spoken in schools, government, and daily life.
Bon Nadal, Jordi.
Ho ho ho, el Tio de Nadal
