by Laia, age 9, asks el Tio de Nadal do children sing special songs while they hit you?, about the Pyrenees Mountains, and Catalonia’s own language
Dear el Tio de Nadal,
My name is Laia 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 children sing special songs while they hit you?
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 orange peel and a blanket.
Love, Laia, age 9, Barcelona, Catalonia, Barcelona, Catalonia
From the Desk of el Tio de Nadal
Dear Laia, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do children sing special songs while they hit you?
They do, cheerful little songs asking me to produce good things, part of the fun and tradition of the whole custom.
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, Laia.
Ho ho ho, el Tio de Nadal
