Why do Catalans hate to be called Spaniards?

Answer 1

Answer 1

Not all Catalans do hate to be called Spanish but the majority do because they do not want to be Spanish, they are Catalan and want to be free from Spain like they were before the Spanish invaded. They have their own language, their own flag and their own traditions. Catalan nationalist are not Spanish, so they do not wish to be addressed as such.

Answer 2

Most Catalans actually do not mind being considered Spaniards, it is the minority that feel that they are not. Contrary to Answer 1, Spain did not "invade" Catalonia. Catalonia was part of the confederated Aragonese Crown that united with the Castillian Crown in 1492 in order to form the Spanish Crown. Catalonia had its own distinct laws and legal system until the 1830s as part of the agreement about how the Spanish crown was to be unified. The change in the 1830s was legal, not cultural, and Catalans retained their distinct language and culture. Spanish administration was done in Castillian (modern Spanish), but that was only to avoid linguistic confusion as Spain has many different languages (like Catalan, Aragonese, Valencian, Basque, Asturian, Galician, etc. in addition to Castillian).

The main push for Catalan Separatism came from the Francoist Period (1939-1975). General Franco violated the implicit understanding in Spain that each part of Spain was entitled to its own language and culture. The Catalans were immensely proud of their language and culture and resisted the "Castille-ification" of their schools, signs, laws, and other parts of their culture. When King Juan Carlos I came to power, he moved to undo those changes, but the fact that the government in Madrid could have so much power in Catalonia as concerns the expression of Catalan ideals angered many Catalans. Additionally, Catalonia is one of the most economically productive areas of Spain, so many Catalans feels that not only is their culture subject to repression, but that they are carrying the weight of Spain while taking a beating for it. As it stands, Catalonia has more autonomy from the Spanish government than any other "State" (Comunidad Autónoma).