About Spain: October 2009 Archives
Don't anyone tell me that Halloween doesn't exist in Spain. IT DOES! And the wave of popularity becomes higher and higher with every passing year - world economic crisis or not. A recent visit to Carrefour Supermarket/Store proved that Spain is very aware of the "holiday". There, they were selling artificial Jack-O-Lanterns with scary faces, Halloween makeup, costumes, loads of accessories and even some candy (although I didn't notice any candy corn).Nearly every day for the past week there have been daily reports on morning news programs about the upcoming "American Holiday" - as it's often described although it's also actively observed in Britain too. Haunted houses, shops carrying popular costumes, the release of scary movies around the date, and of course the holiday decorations are talked about daily. I've even seen a number of elementary school classes discussing how they're going to dress up on Halloween.
An elementary school teacher friend of mine and I spent hours carving Jack-O-Lanterns for the students, bought decorations for the classroom, and the teacher plans Halloween stories, songs, and projects for the kids - but not TOO scary, mind you.
The older "kids", teens, 20 and 30-somethings, have planned dress-up parties this weekend and no-doubt they'll have fun dressing-up as toreros, witches, ghosts, Frankenstein's monster, and undoubtedly LOTS of Draculas.
Trick-or-Treat doesn't exist here, which is logical to me, as so few people observe this part of the Halloween tradition - and even fewer are aware of it. Imagine the looks neighbors would give the solitary toddler dressed up as Winnie The Pooh, going door to door with his Halloween bag and asking for candy. I'm sure the neighbors might have a few cough drops lying around.
A recent article stated the following:
Spanish Catholic leaders lash out at Halloween
The growing popularity of Halloween is alarming Roman Catholic leaders who blame parents for encouraging children to celebrate death over life. There is a growing "risk" that due to commercial interests "pagan" customs which have been "imported" to Spain will place Christian customs like devotion to saints and praying for the dead. Hollywood is blamed for the spread of Halloween.
Many people are aware that in Mexico they celebrate "Día de los Muertos" ("Day of the Dead") on November 2nd and many believe this is where North America took and modified this ritual to Halloween (note: yes, I'm aware that Mexico is part of North America but I refer to North America north of the Mexican border), combining it with the celebration of the autumnal equinox the Irish immigrants celebrated there.
(Quoted from JackOLanterns.net)
In Spain November 1 has become a public holiday. On All Saints' Day ("Dia de Todos los Santos") Catholics attend church services in honor of the saints, the martyrs and those who have died for the Catholic faith. People may also visit their family's graves to beautify them with wreaths and small lanterns. Sometimes a mass is said at the grave site and the grave sprinkled with holy water.
On November 2 or All Souls' Day, Catholics attend a special Requiem masses, where they remember those who may be close to them that have died. Prayers for the dead are said and votive candles are lit to honor their memory.
In the past 10-15 years in Spain, however, this observance has waned as younger generations become less and less religious - or just want to avoid the traffic. For decades, particularly under the Franco regime, this custom was fervently exercised.
Personally, I'll be "observing" Halloween in my annual manner by watching the 1978 John Carpenter movie "HALLOWEEN" starring Jamie Lee Curtis, with the lights down, a candle lit, and popcorn at the ready.
This afternoon at about 6pm (Spain time) the announcement will come from Copenhagen regarding the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision of the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics. I hope to be in Madrid's Plaza de Oriente at this time to watch the event with several others on the big screen televisions.
For weeks the media has become ever increasingly saturated with talk about the possibility of Madrid hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. Events have been scheduled and painstakingly executed to display Madrid's and Madrileños' support for the Olympic Games. Millions of Euros have been spent to prove to the IOC - and the world - that Madrid desperately wants to become an Olympic City.
Songs have been sung by Spanish pop stars, well-known athletes have recorded television commercials, and politicians are offering their time as much as possible for magazines, morning talk shows, and interviews to show their support for the games, hoping to convince the IOC of this fact.
Kids are easy to convince of such things. Give them a huge, colorful hand, a T-Shirt or cap to wear and a loud music event and they're happy. Adults are harder to sway. Adults know the costs already spent - and subsequently wasted - on a losing attempt to win the 2012 Olympics, awarded to London with Madrid way back in the voting. Adults know that billions of Euros are at stake if Madrid becomes the focus of the world in 2016, with all its hotels, restaurants, bars, and stores full, not to mention becoming the worldwide focus. They know that money has been invested and spent on infrastructure which will no doubt improve livability in Madrid but which has - and will - cause traffic and construction nightmares for years. Years of expense and inconvenience is being invested for a couple months of income. But the long-term result could be much more rewarding.
Barcelona learned in 1992 the long-term benefits of being "An Olympic City" can be lasting, changing the image of a city forever. Barcelona didn't need much help in that area as its always been considered "Cool". Will an Olympic win for Madrid achieve the same result? Will it also win Madrid the respectability it desires and deserves? For now, many people who don't know Spain probably think that Barcelona is the capital of the country. I don't know how many friends of mine, upon telling them I was moving to Spain, first asked me, "Oh really? To Barcelona?" Being chosen as an Olympic City, Barcelona's already solid reputation amazingly improved even more.
Growing up in the USA, during all those years of USA-Russia dominance in the Olympic Games, I loved the track and field competitions. My early physical maturity and talent for running fast helped win me many a race in all grades. Fortunately, I know what it's like to be first running through the finish line in front of thousands of cheering people. Few know this sensation. Watching Olympic track and field events LIVE would be a dream come true for me, and better yet that it's all taking place right here in my back yard. I just hope I can get - AND AFFORD - the tickets.
Today, in Madrid's Plaza de Oriente, between the Teatro Real and the Royal Palace, the event has already started. The plaza has been transformed and ready to receive the thousands of hopeful Madrileños and Spaniards to watch on the big screen the vote and subsequent IOC decision in Copenhagen for the 2016 Olympic Games. Will it be Madrid? Or will it be Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, or Tokyo. Time - and the votes - will tell. We'll all know by 6:15pm local time.
For weeks the media has become ever increasingly saturated with talk about the possibility of Madrid hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. Events have been scheduled and painstakingly executed to display Madrid's and Madrileños' support for the Olympic Games. Millions of Euros have been spent to prove to the IOC - and the world - that Madrid desperately wants to become an Olympic City.
Songs have been sung by Spanish pop stars, well-known athletes have recorded television commercials, and politicians are offering their time as much as possible for magazines, morning talk shows, and interviews to show their support for the games, hoping to convince the IOC of this fact.Kids are easy to convince of such things. Give them a huge, colorful hand, a T-Shirt or cap to wear and a loud music event and they're happy. Adults are harder to sway. Adults know the costs already spent - and subsequently wasted - on a losing attempt to win the 2012 Olympics, awarded to London with Madrid way back in the voting. Adults know that billions of Euros are at stake if Madrid becomes the focus of the world in 2016, with all its hotels, restaurants, bars, and stores full, not to mention becoming the worldwide focus. They know that money has been invested and spent on infrastructure which will no doubt improve livability in Madrid but which has - and will - cause traffic and construction nightmares for years. Years of expense and inconvenience is being invested for a couple months of income. But the long-term result could be much more rewarding.
Barcelona learned in 1992 the long-term benefits of being "An Olympic City" can be lasting, changing the image of a city forever. Barcelona didn't need much help in that area as its always been considered "Cool". Will an Olympic win for Madrid achieve the same result? Will it also win Madrid the respectability it desires and deserves? For now, many people who don't know Spain probably think that Barcelona is the capital of the country. I don't know how many friends of mine, upon telling them I was moving to Spain, first asked me, "Oh really? To Barcelona?" Being chosen as an Olympic City, Barcelona's already solid reputation amazingly improved even more.
Growing up in the USA, during all those years of USA-Russia dominance in the Olympic Games, I loved the track and field competitions. My early physical maturity and talent for running fast helped win me many a race in all grades. Fortunately, I know what it's like to be first running through the finish line in front of thousands of cheering people. Few know this sensation. Watching Olympic track and field events LIVE would be a dream come true for me, and better yet that it's all taking place right here in my back yard. I just hope I can get - AND AFFORD - the tickets.
Today, in Madrid's Plaza de Oriente, between the Teatro Real and the Royal Palace, the event has already started. The plaza has been transformed and ready to receive the thousands of hopeful Madrileños and Spaniards to watch on the big screen the vote and subsequent IOC decision in Copenhagen for the 2016 Olympic Games. Will it be Madrid? Or will it be Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, or Tokyo. Time - and the votes - will tell. We'll all know by 6:15pm local time.
GOOD LUCK MADRID!
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