Andorra History, Languages, Religious Beliefs, Customs & Traditions

The Principality of Andorra is a country belonging to Europe, whose capital is Andorra la Vieja . Its population is about 80,000 inhabitants (185º) and its extension is 468 km2 (195º). Its human development index is very high (35º) and its official currency is the euro.

WHAT LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN ANDORRA?

Andorra has an official language , Catalan.

But despite having only one official language, in Andorra mainly 4 languages are spoken (classified by mother tongue):

  1. 🇪🇸 Spanish , the mother tongue of 43.8% of the population.
  2. He  Catalan , spoken by 39.5% of its inhabitants.
  3. 🇵🇹 Portuguese , spoken by 18.6% of the inhabitants.
  4. 🇫🇷 French , the mother tongue of 9.7% of Andorrans.

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However, if we take into account the usual use in relationships with other people:

  1. Alone Catalan ( 45.6% )
  2. Only 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 27.5% )
  3. Catalan and 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 9.6% )
  4. Only 🇵🇹 Portuguese ( 3.8% )
  5. Only 🇫🇷 French ( 2.2% )
  6. A language other than those mentioned ( 1.5% )
  7. Other combinations (10%)

Andorrans, on average, have a level of understanding of the following languages:

  1. 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 9.2 / 10)
  2. Catalan ( 8.1 )
  3. 🇫🇷 French ( 4.8 )
  4. 🇬🇧 English ( 3.0 )
  5. 🇵🇹 Portuguese ( 2,5 )

To get an idea of ​​the linguistic use at home , in order:

  1. Catalan ( 37.5% )
  2. 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 30.7% )
  3. 🇵🇹 Portuguese ( 14.4% )
  4. Catalan and 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 6.0% )
  5. 🇫🇷 French ( 3.2% )
  6. Other situations (7.9%)

The most used language with friends is:

  1. Catalan ( 42.1% )
  2. 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 31.8% )
  3. Catalan and 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 8.2% )
  4. 🇵🇹 Portuguese ( 5.4% )
  5. 🇫🇷 French ( 2.5% )
  6. Other situations (9.5%)

And to find out what language is spoken at work internally :

  1. Catalan ( 43.4% )
  2. 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 32.1% )
  3. Catalan and 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 9.0% )
  4. 🇫🇷 French ( 2.0% )
  5. Other situations (12.4%)

And the languages ​​used at work (external relations) :

  1. Only Catalan ( 38.7% )
  2. Catalan and 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 27.5% )
  3. Only 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 11.3% )
  4. Only 🇫🇷 French ( 1.2% )
  5. Other combinations (20.5%)

In public administration , they attend to:

  1. Only Catalan ( 91.5% )
  2. Catalan and 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 4.0% )
  3. Only 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 3.6% )
  4. Other situations (0.9%)

How often does an Andorran start a conversation in Catalan :

  1. Always ( 42.1% )
  2. Very often ( 27.1% )
  3. Rarely ( 17% )
  4. Never ( 13.4% )

Finally, percentage of time each language is spoken for the population as a whole:

  1. Catalan ( 49.4% )
  2. 🇪🇸 Spanish ( 36.6% )
  3. 🇵🇹 Portuguese ( 6.8% )
  4. 🇫🇷 French ( 4.5% )
  5. 🇬🇧 English ( 1.5% )
  6. Others (1.1%)

In the educational system , there are 3 types of systems :

  1. The Andorran , withCatalan vehicular language, which depends on the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Government of Andorra. It was created in 1982. Currently 40% of the students are enrolled .
  2. The Spanish , with Spanish language 🇪🇸 vehicular dependent the Ministry of Education of Spain. It has 5 primary schools and one secondary school. The 28% of students choose this system.
  3. The French , with French 🇫🇷 vehicle, which depends on the French Ministry of National Education. There are 14 primary schools and one institute (Lycée Comte de Foix). A 32% student does in the French system.

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Customs and Traditions in Andorra

GASTRONOMY

FOOD IN DAILY LIFE

The diet in Andorra is based on the consumption of meat, vegetables and some fish. The most common winter dish, in rural and urban areas, is escudella, a soup of beef, chicken, potatoes and vegetables. Some immigrant communities have different customs: The Portuguese eat more cod and Indians, more vegetarian food. Typically, the midday meal is eaten near the workplace in a restaurant.

FOOD CUSTOMS ON CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS

Many Catholic families still avoid eating meat on Fridays. In the feast of the Virgin of Meritxell, Andorran families usually eat outdoors after the solemn midday mass: they eat cold cuts, chicken and rabbit. The Christmas cycle is also an occasion for organizing family meals.

RELIGION

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

Although Andorra lacks a formal religion, Roman Catholicism is hegemonic. A fundamental element of this presence is the role of the Bishop of Urgel as co-prince and, at the same time, head of the Andorran Church. Apart from Jehovah’s Witnesses, there are no public religious alternatives in Andorra.

RITUALS AND HOLY PLACES

All public ceremonies, including some sessions of Parliament, are accompanied by a Catholic mass. The Andorran festive calendar is adapted to the Catholic liturgical calendar, and the nation, like every parish, has a patron saint and a collection of religious and lay celebrations.

SECULAR CELEBRATIONS

In addition to the national festival of the Virgin of Meritxell (September 8), each parish has its own patronal festival. Given the nation’s business orientation (which remains open for business, especially when neighboring nations have holidays), the only formal holidays are Christmas and New Years.

ARTS AND HUMANITIES

SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS

Both the State and the communal administrations support artistic training and creativity. Music conservatories and art schools are scattered throughout the country.

LITERATURE

Andorran literary production does not cross the borders of the small country, except in the case of the writer A. Morell. However, there are groups of historians and folklorists interested in recovering oral traditions and in studying and teaching the history of the nation.

PERFORMING ARTS

In music, the two great figures of classical music, the Claret brothers, who play the cello and the violin, have acquired great prestige throughout Europe.

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