THE CATALAN INDIANS, EVOkATING THE AMERICAN PAST

The Grandma in Begur, El Baix Empordà

Since 1765, when Carlos III, the Spanish king, had to be more flexible with the commercial monopoly of the Southern Spanish ports over Cuba, we have news about Catalan migrants in this Caribbean Island. The beginning of the Catalan Industrial Revolution and this political resolution marked the economic success of some Catalan migrants in the island during the first half of the 19^th century (1820-1840). During those years, the Catalan migrants had an intensive commercial activity and they became in new members of the Cuban society. In Santiago de Cuba, the commercial activity was so big than native people say “I go to the Catalan” when they went to the winery and surnames like Baró, Martí, Alegret, Ametller or Arnau mixed with the native ones.

Download The phenomenon of the Indians in Catalonia

Judges like Josep Verdaguer, businessmen like Facund Bacardí Massó (founder of Bacardí Rum) and  Jaume Partagàs i Ravell (founder of Partagàs Tobacco Factory), bankers like Narcís Gelats (founder of Banco Gelats) or religious like Antoni Maria Claret, the archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, were only an example of personal successes in the island.

The existence of the Modernism art in La Habana is a great influence of the Catalan artists in architecture, painting and sculpture. The main Catalan settlements were Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, La Habana, Matanzas, Bayamo, Manzanillo and Holguín.

Those who became rich and had fortune returned to their hometowns and built Indian-style houses. They missed the island and tried to evocate the Caribbean architecture in towns like Cambrils, Torredembarra, Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Arenys de Mar, Blanes, Lloret de Mar, Palafrugell or Begur.

More information: Xarxes de Municipis Indians

Lots of Catalans helped Cubans in the Independence Wars against Spain (1868-1878 and 1895-1898) and some years later, lots of Catalans loyal to the Republican troops must emigrate: it was a political exile (1936-1939). Some of them, famous intellectuals, contributed to found prestigious institutions and universities (Universidad de Oriente, 1947) and worked in them.

Nowadays, the influence of Caribbean cultre is still visible along the Catalan coast in the architecture and in the traditions. 

Local people celebrate parties to reminisce these cultural influences where Havaneres (Cuban-Catalan music) and rum are the main protagonists.

More information: Cantada d'Havaneres de Calella de Palafrugell

Liberty is the right of every man to be honest, 
to think and to speak without hypocrisy.

José Martí