REUTERS/Susana Vera

Sept. 11 marks the ‘Diada’, Catalonia’s national day, which commemorates the fall of Barcelona to Spain in 1714 and is traditionally used by pro-independence activists to call for secession for the northeastern region with a distinct language. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative government is fiercely against the vote, wished Catalonia "a good day", calling "for a Diada of freedom, cohabitation and respect for all Catalans". On September 6, Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont had signed a decree that officially called for a “self-determination referendum of Catalonia” on October 1.
Around a million people rally in Barcelona to mark the National Day of Catalonia and to support the upcoming independence referendum on 1 October.