Leonese people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Total population | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| approx. more than 1 million people worldwide[1] | ||||||
| Regions with significant populations | ||||||
|
The Leoneses (Leonese: Llïoneses) are an ethnic group or nationality whose homeland is the Kingdom of León, which is a country in Southwestern Europe, embracing a territory situated in the north-west of Spain and northeast of Portugal. The languages of León are Leonese language and Spanish into Spain and Leonese language and Portuguese in Portugal. A variety of Leonese language, called Mirandese is spoken in Mirando de l Douro Region (Portugal).
Leonese Kingdom was an independent country in the Middle Ages, keeping its status as a kingdom under the Spanish rule until 1833.
Contents |
[edit] Geography and Demographics
[edit] Political and administrative divisions
- Spain
The former Kingdom of León was maily divided in three historical regions: Asturias, León and Extremadura, being the southern territories integrated into Andalucía, and some of the easter into Castile. Spanish division of 1833[2] recognised as leonese provinces of León, Salamanca and Zamora.
- Portugal
There are leonese minorities into the District of Bragança (Portugal) that keep Leonese culture and Leonese language, mainly in the northwest (Riodonor, Guadramil) and in the Land of Miranda, where a Leonese dialect known as Mirandese[3] was officially recognised by the Parliament of Portugal.
[edit] Leonese language
The Leonese language (Llingua Llïonesa in Leonese) was developed from Vulgar Latin with contributions from the pre-Roman languages which were spoken in the territory of the Spanish provinces of León, Zamora, and Salamanca and in some villages in the District of Bragança, Portugal. Close to Mirandese and Asturian or Bable, it belongs to Leonese or Astur-Leonese subgroup of Iberian languages.
Leonese was the official language of the Leonese Kingdom in the Middle Ages, and achieved a high codification grade.
First written text in Leonese is Nodicia de Kesos (959 or 974), and so others like Fueru de Llión, Fueru de Salamanca, Fueru Xulgu, Códice d'Alfonsu XI, ou Disputa d'Elena y María or Llibru d'Alixandre were written in Leonese[4]
The situation of Leonese as minorized language has driven Leonese to near extinction and is considered a seriously endangered language by the UNESCO [5]. There are some efforts to gain acceptance among the urban population (the Leonese Council and other municipalities such as Zamora, Coyanza, Mansilla de las Mulas or La Bañeza made campaigns in and for teaching Leonese).
[edit] Leonese cuisine
Embutidos
- Cecina from León: from beef. In Leonese, cecina means "meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke". Cecina de León is made of the hind legs of beef, salted, smoked and air-dried in the province of León in Northwestern Spain, and has PGI status.
- Botillo: from pig. Traditionally made in the western leonese regions. Botiellu, in Leonese language, is a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine. It is a culinary specialty of El Bierzo, a county in the Spanish province of León and also of the region of Trás-os-Montes, in Portugal. This type of Embutido is a meat product made from different pieces left over from the butchering of a pig, including the ribs, tail, and bones with a little meat left on them. These are chopped; seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and other spices; stuffed in the cecum of the pig; and partly cured via smoking. It can also include the pig's tongue, shoulder blade, jaw, and backbone, but never exceeding 20% of the total volume. It is normally consumed cooked, covered with a sheet. Also has a PGI status.
Wines
- Bierzo: in the west of the Province of León and covers about 3,000 km². The area consists of numerous small valleys in the mountainous part (Alto Bierzo) and of a wide, flat plain (Bajo Bierzo). The DO covers 23 municipalities.
- Tierras de León: in the southeast of the Province of León.
- Toro
Sweets
- Mantecadas de Astorga.
- Hojaldres de Astorga.
- Lazos de San Guillermo.
- Nicanores de Boñar.
[edit] Religion
The majority of Leoneses are Roman Catholics with a non-religious minority.
[edit] Nationalism and history
There are Leoneses political parties who claim for an independent autonomous community for the Leonese provincies.
[edit] TLD Campaign
PuntuLLI Association [6] fights for a Top Level Domain for the Leonese language and culture. There are more than 700 signers and 44 organisations added.
[edit] See also
- Leonese language
- Kingdom of León
- Province of León
- Province of Salamanca
- Province of Zamora
- Nationalities of Spain
- Spanish people
[edit] External links
- http://www.puntulli.org/ Top Level Domain for Leonese language
- http://www.elfueyu.net/ Leonese language Association
- http://www.eltoralin.com/ Leonese language Association from El Bierzo
- http://www.aytoleon.es/ Leonese City Council
- http://www.dipuleon.es/ Leonese Provincial Council
