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Culture of Andorra

Flag Map of Andorra

Given the small size and the landlocked location of Andorran society, many aspects of their culture might seem odd to outsiders. However, it can be traced back to even before their establishment as a sovereign principality in 1278. “The first reference to Andorra appears in the writings of the Greek historian Polybius”; from there, Andorra has had multiple encounters with different civilizations that have shaped their way of life today. Their historical relationship with France and Spain currently defines a significant part of their identity, going as far as developing an inherent factionalism within their society. While the unique foreign relations of this principality affect their culture, the government has endeavored to maintain its national identity, seeing itself as a mountain society with solid roots in transhumant pastoralism. The Andorran people also possess strong ties to the Catalans, an ethnic group located northeast of Spain. In 1982, in an effort to forgo the dualism of France and Spain, the country adopted the Catalan language and created the Andorran public school system. In 1993 Andorra created a constitution making the country a parliamentary democracy coprincipality, but most of its territory maintains strong rural origins. Most political groups are created to protect local interests, and candidates are usually well-known in Andorran society due to the small population size.

Gastronomy

Trinxat (Andorran potato based dish)

Andorra has a wide variety of traditional dishes, ranging from appetizers to desserts. Their cooking mainly focuses on fresh agricultural products, freshly caught fish, meat, and chicken; a staple of Andorran cuisine is the boar and hare meat. A popular dish is the escudella, a soup made from a mixture of ingredients, including pasta, chicken, pig's feet, beef, potatoes, white chickpeas, and vegetables; It is generally consumed in the winter, especially during Christmas. Desserts include flat cakes, usually infused with potent ingredients to give full-bodied flavors, such as brandy and grape syrup. Despite its small size, Andorra is also home to a variety of regional dishes, and differences in cooking techniques can be seen in different places; in particular, the town of Canillo in Andorra is well known for the dessert food coca de canel, a doughy dessert with a base of nuts and slowly cooked in wine and sugar.

Art, music and celebrations

Art

Andorra Roman Architecture Museum

Art schools and music conservatories are scattered around the country and are sponsored by public and private benefactors seeking to preserve and protect the country's art legacy through formal instruction. There are multiple museums, most of them located in the Capital city of Andorra la Vella, the most renowned museums in Andorra are The National Library and The Museu Nacional de l'Automòbil (National Automobile Museum), Museu Postal (Postal Museum), and the Museum of Miniatures.

Music

Music plays an essential role in society and is part of what defines their culture. Two of Andorra's most prominent and recognized festivals are the Escaldes-Engordany international jazz festival, celebrated in July, and the Music Festival of Ordino in September. Classical music also plays a part in this cultural tradition. Two of its greatest musical proponents are the brothers Lluis Claret, a cellist, and Gerard Claret, a violinist, winning prestigious awards throughout Europe. The National Chamber Orchestra was established in 1992, appointing Gerard Claret as its artistic director in 1993. The National Chamber Orchestra has participated in numerous concerts and appeared in many major European concert halls since its foundation.

Craft

The Andorrans are well known for their woodworking and expert carpentry of wood furniture, fittings, and moldings typically made from pine. Some craftsmen and artists specialize in intricate designs carved in wood, leather, or metal, traditionally sculpted with the tip of a knife.

Major holidays and celebrations

The most significant holiday is Our Lady of Meritxell Day, also known as Andorran National Day, observed on September 8. Other predominant holidays are New Year's Day, celebrated on January 1; Christmas, celebrated on December 25, Good Friday and Easter Monday, celebrated in March or April, according to the Christian calendar.

Sports

Arcalis Ski Center Andorra

Due to its cultural identity and history as a nomadic pastoral society, Andorra's peoples are more inclined toward outdoor recreation and sports. Andorra's location makes it a preferred destination for skiing, especially for tourists from Spain and France, due to its proximity. Some regions within the country remain covered in snow for six months, allowing optimal conditions to practice the sport. They also offer ski classes through the Andorran National Ski School in the resorts that are located in the mountains. Other popular sports attractive to tourists and locals are mountaineering, rock climbing, and hiking. Additionally, Andorrans commonly partake in hunting, fishing, and cycling activities.

Cultural heritage

Dance

Marratxa Dance

Part of Andorra's cultural heritage is its folk dance called sardana, also known as the national dance of Catalonia in Spain. Sardana is performed in a circle, facing the center. The men and women join hands, taking long and short steps with their feet to the sound of the cobla. Several regions have different types of dances, such as the contrapas, the marratxa, and the Bal de Santa Ana.

Traditional clothing

The people of Andorra use traditional attires for special occasions and noteworthy cultural events such as festivals and exhibits. The women's clothing consists of long skirts with flowers, blouses covered by shawls, long black and red gloves, high white stockings, and black cloth shoes, known as espadrilles. The men wear white shirts, dark knee-length pants, long white socks, and black shoes, sometimes accompanied by wide red belts.

Architecture

Andorra preserves Romanesque architecture, primarily depicted in the churches built between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, such as Santa Roma et Erts, Sant Climent de Pal, and Sant Joan de Sispony in the parish of La Massana. In the territory of Andorra, there are also ruins of medieval castles and forts, as well as old rural hamlets that document the Romanesque architecture still prevalent today.

Religion

Church of Sant Esteve d'en Bas

More than 90 percent of Andorra's population is Roman Catholic, but there are also other groups, such as Protestants, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims, that live peacefully in society. The government of Andorra and the Catholic Church make joint decisions, the country's administrative structure is based on the parish system of the church, and a bishop fulfills the role of one of the two princes that govern Andorra. The Roman Catholic Church manages Andorra's public archives; one of the significant consequences of this practice is the state recognizing only Catholic marriages effectuated by the church. Despite the centralized control of the church, each catholic temple owns its own celebrations and patron saint.