Two nations, one sense of destiny - the meeting of the Hungarian and Catalan national spirits

Opinion piece, based on facts

On the map of Europe, Hungary and Catalonia are far apart. Yet, anyone who knows both places - especially the weight of historical memory - will quickly recognize that there are surprisingly many common features between the Hungarian and Catalan folk souls. It is like as we were listening to stories written in two different languages, but with similar fates.

Historical upheavals - in the shadow of great powers

The history of both nations is defined by domination by external powers and the struggle for self-determination.

The Tatar invasion, the Ottoman conquest, the Habsburg rule, and then the dictatorships of the 20th century left a deep mark on Hungarian history. For Catalonia, the Spanish centralization, the defeat of 1714, the Franco dictatorship, and linguistic and cultural oppression meant similar traumas.

Both nations experienced what it was like to live on the "imperial periphery", where preserving their own language, culture and identity was a constant struggle.

Language as identity and resistance

The Hungarian and Catalan languages are not just communication tools, but also bastions of identity. The isolation of the Hungarian language has always created a strong "we-consciousness". The use of the Catalan language has long been considered a political statement. In both cultures, language is a pledge of self-identity, a symbol of resistance, and one of the most powerful tools of community cohesion.

Melancholy, pride and irony - common tones of the folk soul

In the Hungarian and Catalan mentality, historical melancholy ("we lost everything"), quiet pride ("yet we are here"), and self-ironic humor are simultaneously present, which helps to survive difficulties. This emotional layering is clearly visible in Hungarian literature and music, as well as in Catalan poetry, films, and song lyrics.

Today, approximately 10-12 million people speak or understand Catalan, primarily in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands and Andorra. This number may seem significant at first glance, but it is a minority language living in the linguistic majority of a larger state. Obviously, this is different from the situation of the Hungarian language, since we have our own nation-state, but if we consider the situation of the millions of Hungarians living in other states, the parallel is still noticeable. This is one of the strongest similarities between the fates of Hungarian and Catalan: both languages are large enough to carry a complete culture, but not large enough to be automatically protected. In both cases, language use is therefore a conscious decision, a statement of identity, and often even an emotional statement. The Catalan and Hungarian languages are not only spoken languages, but also lived histories.

Cities that remember

Budapest and Barcelona are different characters, yet the memory is similar. Budapest is a city of historical ruptures: past and present connected by bridges. Barcelona is a symbol of the desire for freedom and rebellion, where behind modernity there is always historical tension. In both cities you can feel that history is not a closed chapter, but a living experience.

Small nations with great cultural weight

Neither the Hungarians nor the Catalans are "populous" nations - yet they have created a disproportionately rich cultural heritage.

Music, architecture, literature, gastronomy - both cultures cling to their own traditions, but are open to the new, often finding refuge in creativity against historical uncertainty.

Why do they understand each other?

Perhaps this is why many Hungarians feel particularly at home in Catalonia, and many Catalans turn to Hungarian history with instinctive empathy.

Because both nations know what it's like to be small among the great, what it's like to lose and start over, what it's like to remain silent but stubborn.