Joan Amades facts for kids
Joan Amades i Gelats (born in Barcelona on July 23, 1890, and passed away on January 17, 1959) was a very important expert from Catalonia. He studied the ways people live and their traditions, which is called ethnology. He also collected old stories, songs, and customs, which is known as folklore.
Joan Amades learned a lot by himself, without going to a regular university. This is called being an autodidact. He worked at the historical archive in Barcelona, where old documents are kept. He also worked at the Museum of Industry and Popular Arts in the same city. From 1956 onwards, he even worked with UNESCO, a big international organization.
He was also a big supporter of Esperanto, a language created to be easy for people from different countries to learn. He started the Federació Esperantista Catalana, which is the Catalan Esperanto association. One of his most important books is Costumari Català. This book is a huge collection of Catalan customs and traditions. It is the main book for learning about the popular culture of Catalonia.
His Amazing Books
Joan Amades wrote many books about Catalan culture and traditions. Here are some of his most important works:
- Les diades populars catalanes (1932–1949): This book is about the popular festivals and celebrations in Catalonia.
- Les cent millor cançons populars (1949): This collection features the 100 best folk songs from Catalonia.
- Refranyer català comentat (1951): This book is a collection of Catalan sayings and proverbs, with explanations for each one.
- Les cent millors rondalles populars (1953): Here, you can find the 100 best popular fairy tales and folk stories.
- Costumari Català (1950–1956): This is his most famous work, a large collection of Catalan customs, traditions, and beliefs. It covers many aspects of daily life and celebrations.
- Guia de les festes tradicionals de Catalunya. Itinerari per tot l´any (1958): This book is a guide to traditional festivals in Catalonia, showing what happens throughout the year.
See also
In Spanish: Joan Amades para niños
