The History Man

Monday, July 7th, 2025

What a day! Today! July 7th, 2025. Not only is it the start of the fiesta de Sanfermines in Pamplona, it's also the 20th anniversary of the London Bombings, when four suicide bombers attacked three underground trains and a London bus during the morning rush hour.

While the encierro in northern Spain is a joyous occasion, the events in London represented a colossal outrage.

[Image courtesy of WinCalendar]    

Introduction

There are certain events, like the assassination of JFK in Dallas, Texas, in 1963, the death of Elvis Presley in 1978, the Lockerbie air disaster in 1988, the Twin Towers abomination in 2001, the Madrid bombings in 2004, where you know exactly where you were when it happened.

Elvis dead [Daily Express]    

In the case of the London bombings, I was sitting in Palmyra Square, Warrington, Cheshire, with my daughter Amy who was home after her first year at university.

We were shocked beyond belief. Amy was particularly concerned for some of her friends, who were from London.

July 7th, London, England

This was widely reported in the media. One of the best accounts was published by The Museum of London.

The 7/7 London bombings, 2005

On the morning of 7 July 2005, four suicide bombers detonated their devices on London Underground trains and a double-decker bus, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more.

    [Photo: The Guardian]

21st-century terror

On 7 July 2005, the peace of a summer’s day in London was shattered by the first ever suicide bombings on English soil.

The attack targeted innocent commuters in the morning rush hour. Some still glowed with the news of the day before – the announcement that London would host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Motivated by extreme Islamist ideas, the attacks spread fear and anxiety. Muslims suffered increased Islamophobia. But there was also resilience – a determination not to let the attacks divide this diverse city.

While Londoners continued with their lives, they didn’t forget the victims of the attacks and created lasting memorials in their honour.

Where were the 7/7 London bombings?

Just before 9am, three suicide bombers carrying explosives in rucksacks detonated their devices independently on London Underground trains travelling through inner London.

One exploded between Liverpool Street and Aldgate. Another detonated between Edgware Road and Paddington. The most deadly explosion came between King’s Cross St Pancras and Russell Square, killing 26 people.

Roughly an hour after the first explosions, a fourth bomb was detonated on a London bus at Tavistock Square, killing a further 13 people.

[Photo: The Times]    

Bloodied and dazed commuters emerged from the tunnels, helped by emergency workers. The London Underground network was closed, and almost all buses were suspended.

Surreal scenes followed as tens of thousands of Londoners spilled onto the street, confused by the lack of information and struggling to make their way home.

Mobile networks went down, unable to cope with the surge in calls as people tried to contact loved ones. Meanwhile, authorities desperately tried to piece together what had happened.

How many people died on 7/7?

A total of 52 people were killed. More than 700 were injured, some losing limbs. The mental scars run further, still affecting passengers and the members of the emergency services who reacted.

The victims were typical of those who crowd onto buses and the Tube every day. The majority were born in the UK, but there were also many people from other countries, including Poland, Vietnam, Ghana, Mauritius and Turkey.

Each with a plan for their morning, their evening, their week.

    [Photo Montage: BBC]

There were also inspiring stories of heroism and survival. Martine Wright lost both her legs, but went on to compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Honouring the dead

In our collection [at the London Museum], there’s a book of tributes by the families and friends of the 52 people who were killed. Inside, they share their intimate memories of those they lost, hoping to preserve some part of their spirit.

The book was previously held at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Bishopsgate, where it was a focal point for visitors paying their respects.

Those who died are also commemorated at a permanent memorial in Hyde Park, where 52 steel pillars are arranged in clusters representing the four locations of the attacks.

    [Hyde Park memorial: Wikipedia]

Who were the suicide bombers?

The bombers were British men who began their journeys on 7 July from their homes in West Yorkshire and Luton. Their British nationality meant they were labelled as ‘home-grown’ terrorists.

The July 7th suicide bombers [BBC]    

All four were killed by their homemade explosives, just as they’d planned. The bombers were inspired by the militant Islamist group al-Qaeda, who were linked to the Madrid train bombings in 2004, the 9/11 attacks in New York in 2001 and the 1998 bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

Al-Qaeda’s ideology pitted it against the US and its allies – including the UK – for their presence in the Middle East and the wars they’d fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

***

Sanfermines 2025

"Uno de enero, dos de febrero, tres de marzo, cuatro de abril, cinco de mayo, seis de junio, siete de julio, San Fermin ....."

The annual bull-running in Pamplona as a prelude to that afternoon's corrida de toros (bullfight) was popularised by the US journalist and writer Ernest Hemingway.

Nowadays, many thousands of visitors from around the world descend on the capital of Navarra to either take part or to observe.

I went two years running in my early twenties. I didn't run - too scary - but enjoyed the bullfights and even saw the great Paquirri as a debutant.

[Poster courtesy of Sanfermin.com]    

The first encierro started at 07.15 this morning. You can view it here:

Vive San Fermín 2025 | Todos los programas de los encierros

Other links:

7 de julio – SAN FERMIN

7 de julio – San Fermín

“ ….. Siete de julio, San Fermin ….”

Sources:

BBC, Britannica, London Museum, RTE, RTVE, Wikipedia, www.eye-on-spain.com

Links:

The 7/7 London bombings, 2005 | London Museum

Vive San Fermín 2025 | Todos los programas de los encierros

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos and Images:

BBC, Daily Express, Guardian, London Museum, RTVE, Sanfermin.com, The Times, Wikipedia

With thanks to:

BBC, London Museum, Paul Whitelock, RTVE, The Culture Vulture, Wikipedia

Tags:

7/7, 9/11, Aldgate, al-Qaeda, assassination, BBC, Britannica, Cheshire, corrida de toros, Daily Express, Dallas, Edgware Road, Elvis Presley, encierro, Guardian, JFK, King’s Cross St Pancras, Liverpool Street, Lockerbie, London bus, London Museum, Madrid train bombings, New York, Paddington, Palmyra Square, pamplona, PanAm flight 103, Paul Whitelock, RTE, RTVE, Russell Square, San Fermin, Sanfermines, "siete de julio", Tavistock Square, The Culture Vulture, The Times, Twin Towers, "Uno de enero", Warrington, Wikipedia

Independence Day and One Year of Starmer

July 4th is Independence Day in America.

It is also the first anniversary of The Labour Party storming to victory in the 2024 General Election.

    [Amazon.com]

Independence Day

Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July or July 4th, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. 

[WinCalendar]

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

Background

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain's rule.

From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicised Declaration of Independence.

Coincidences

By remarkable coincidence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only two signatories of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as presidents of the United States, both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. 

Although not a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, another Founding Father who was elected president, also died on July 4, 1831, making him the third President who died on the anniversary of independence. 

The only US president to have been born on Independence Day was Calvin Coolidge, who was born on July 4, 1872.

One Year of Starmer and a Labour Government

The Labour Party commemorates one year of government today following their landslide win on July 4th, 2024. It has not been a happy few days in the run-up to the anniversary.

Mired in controversy about U-turns and incompetence, promoted by the right-wing Press, the worst examples of which are The Daily Express and The Telegraph for their scurrilous and biased reporting. The Financial Times, The Daily Mail and The i also have their moments.

Sir Keir Starmer [El Periodico]    

Having staved off a major rebellion amongst Labour back-benchers they managed to get their Finance Bill through. It's not looking so clever as The Labour Government enters its second year.

Links:

Election Fever 2024

UK GENERAL ELECTION - 4 July 2024

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - The Keir Starmer Prime Minister One - BBC Sounds

© The History Man

Pictures:

Amazon.com, BBC, El Periodico, WinCalendar, 

With thanks to:

BBC Sounds, Paul Whitelock, The History Man

Tags:

BBC Sounds, Keir Starmer, Nick Robinson, Paul Whitelock, Political Thinking, The History Man, 

Sunday, April 20, 2025 
 

In Christian countries Easter Sunday signifies the end of the Easter celebrations, although in the UK and the USA Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday. In other Christian cultures, this particular Monday is a normal working day, eg in Germany, Italy and Spain. 

    [Image courtesy of My Postcard]

The Story of Easter

According to Christian tradition the Easter period starts with Palm Sunday, recalling the day Our Lord entered Jerusalem to a great welcome riding on a donkey.

By the following Friday He had been crucified by the Roman governors along with some petty thieves and died. He rose from the grave on Easter Sunday and ascended into Heaven to sit alongside His Father, God.

In secular societies such as the UK and France not much happens, whereas in Roman Catholic countries like Italy and Spain there is a much more religious aspect on display.

[Photo: Ascension Press]    

Semana Santa in Spain

In Spain, especially in Andalucia, from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday (Semana Santa - Holy Week) there are Easter processions (desfiles) every day.

This is when the various cofradias linked to different churches in a town or village, get out their tronos, wooden "carriages" with statues of the Virgin Mary and of Christ on the Cross, which are carried through the streets on the shoulders of costaleros, usually, the menfolk of the parish.

[Photo: Hike and Bike the Sierras]    

I find these parades spectacular and very moving, whereas my German wife does not and avoids them like the plague. Many foreigners find them fascinating, more so tourists than residents. The local Spanish, however, turn out en masse, "dressed to the nines". A time to see and be seen.

On Palm Sunday morning this year I chanced upon the opening two processions, just as they were starting out. After a week of heavy rain we were blessed with a dry day and they started off in bright sunshine around noon. Some processions later in the week were sadly rained off.

Easter shut-down

In Ronda (Malaga), where I live, the town shuts down from jueves santo until domingo de Resurreccion, although these days the foreign-owned supermarkets tend to open, eg the German discounters Aldi and LIDL and French-owned Al Campo, Carrefour and Supeco.

The Spanish-owned Dia, Eroski, Mercadona and Super Carmela keep their doors firmly shut.

Some businesses close for the entire week, compelling their employees to take leave whether they want to or not. In Ronda Big Mat La Toma, the builders merchants, is a prime example.

[Image: Good Housekeeping]    

So, construction companies either have to plan ahead or also shut down. The only places open all week are bars, cafes, restaurants and tourist shops, because they can make a fortune!

Final thoughts

I love the atmosphere and tradition of Easter in Spain. A time of sadness and joy, of spectacular processions and warm community spirit, of families coming together.

I hope it will survive forever.

[Image: ACI Prensa]    

Note: This post also appears at The Culture Vulture:

Happy Easter!

© The Culture Vulture and The History Man

Photos and images:

ACI Prensa, Ascension Press, Charry TV, Good Housekeeping, Hike and Bike the Sierras, My Postcard, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Semanal, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia

Acknowledgements:

Diario Sur, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, Wikipedia

Links:

Guide to Semana Santa in Ronda | Andalucia.com

Semana Santa 2025: A Guide to Spain's Holy Week Celebrations

Semana Santa Archives - Ronda Today

SEMANA SANTA (Holy Week)

Will Spain's hallowed Semana Santa be another washout? Storm Olivier brings orange alerts to Andalucia - Olive Press News Spain

Tags:

ACI Prensa, Ascension Press, Al Campo, Aldi, Andalucía, ascended into Heaven, a time to see and be seen, atmosphere, Bank Holiday, Big Mat La Toma, builders merchants, Carrefour, Charry TV, Christian tradition, Christ on the cross, Clive Muir, cofradias, community spirit, construction companies, costaleros, crucified, desfiles, Dia, Diario Sur, domingo de Resurreccion, "dressed to the nines", Easter Monday, Easter processions, Easter shut-down, Easter Sunday, Eroski, families coming together, foreigners find them fascinating, foreign-owned supermarkets, France, French-owned, German discounters, Germany, God, Good Housekeeping, Happy Easter, Hike and Bike the Sierras, Holy Week, Italy, Jerusalem, jueves santo, LIDL, make a fortune, Mercadona, Michael Coy, normal working day, My Postcard, Olive Press News, open all week, Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday morning, Paul Whitelock, processions rained off, residents, Roman Catholic countries, Ronda Semanal, Ronda Today, sadness and joy, Semana Santa, Spain, Spanish-owned, spectacular processions, Supeco, Super Carmela, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, tourists, tourist shops, tradition, Trip Advisor, tronos, UK, Virgin Mary, Wikipedia

By Paul Whitelock

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

This important day will be celebrated throughout the world, tomorrow, Saturday.

Origins

Spurred on by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labour movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century. 

The earliest version reported was a "Women’s Day" organised by the Socialist Party of America in New York City on 28 February, 1909. 

This inspired German delegates at the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference to propose "a special Women's Day" be organised annually. 

The following year, 1911, saw the first demonstrations and commemorations of International Women's Day across Europe.

Development

After the Russian Revolution in 1917, IWD was made a national holiday on March 8; it was subsequently celebrated on that date by the socialist movement and communist countries. 

To start with the holiday was associated with far-left movements and governments until its adoption by the global feminist movement in the late 1960s. 

IWD became a mainstream global holiday following its promotion by the United Nations in 1977. 

International Women's Day is a public holiday in several countries. The UN observes the holiday in connection with a particular issue, campaign, or theme in women's rights. 

Whilst IWD is not an official holiday in most countries of Europe, it is celebrated nonetheless. 

Several countries, including Uruguay, Spain, Italy, France and Algeria, have squares or other public spaces named after 8 March in reference to International Women's Day. 

International Women’s Day 2025

The theme for 2025 is: “Her Rights, Our Future, Right Now”, and the campaign theme is; “Accelerate Action”.

In the British House of Commons yesterday MP Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls in the “newish” Labour government, read out the names of the British women who had been murdered by men in 2024.

There were 95 names – a shocking figure.

Phillips also mentioned other female deaths where the perpetrator has not been convicted ..... 

..... and also a number of suicides by abused women and girls.

Watch her speech here:

Jess Phillips MP – lists the 95 women killed by men, or where the suspect is a man – March 2025

Note:

This is the 10^th year in succession that Jess Phillips has read out the names of those killed in the preceding year.

However, this was the first time that she was able to do so from the despatch box, and not from the back benches as a spokesperson for the opposition.

Epilogue

Whilst IWD is about the positive side of women’s place in society, it is important to be reminded that there is still a lot of work to be done.

Links:

International Women's Day - 8 March 2024 - Help me, Ronda

International Women's Day - 8 March - Secret Serrania de Ronda

International Women’s Day: Spanish Health Minister announces new measures to ensure equal abortion rights  - Olive Press News Spain

© The History Man

With thanks to:

Wikipedia for information and most photos

Youtube for the video

Other photos courtesy of BBC, IWD, Facebook, Freepik

Tags:

8 March, abuse against women, BBC, communist, Facebook, feminist, FILIA, Freepik, gender equality, female suffrage, IWD, International Socialist Women’s Conference, International Women's Day, Invest in Women, Paul Whitelock, reproductive rights, Russian Revolution, socialist, Socialist Party of America, United Nations, violence, Wikipedia, "Women’s Day", women's rights, Youtube

It is 45 years since 28 February 1980 when in a referendum the andaluces voted overwhelmingly for their region to become one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions (federal states), following Spain’s return to democracy on the death of the dictator General Franco five years earlier.

Bandera andaluza [courtesy of saedyn]    

Friday 28 February 2025

Today is a día festivo in Andalucía, a holiday of obligation. Everywhere is closed, except for bars and restaurants, bakers, newsagents and, of course, churches, so that all good Roman Catholics may go to Mass.

Bad weather, including warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms, was forecast and, sure enough, as I write this, I can hear the heavy downpour and prolonged thunderclaps outside.

Sadly, the bad weather will curtail some of the outdoor celebrations. Never mind, the andaluces will still enjoy the extra-long weekend, by celebrating with family and friends.

    Bad weather [Posters.es]

And the "guiris"?

Many of us foreigners who are resident here will also use the excuse to celebrate this important day in the political and cultural history of the region.

As for me and the Meter Maid, we’re heading off on foot to the nearest restaurant to our home, the excellent La Cascada at the Hotel Molino del Puente, just outside Ronda.

No driving anywhere today – the local guardia civil will be out in force hoping to catch drink-drivers.

   The terrace at La Cascada [Photo: Ian Love]

***

UPDATE:

We enjoyed our meal at La Cascada. To read my review please click here:

DIA DE ANDALUCIA DINING 2025

***

Further reading:

FORGOTTEN ANNIVERSARY: Spain's General Franco died 45 years ago

Andalucía Day (Día de Andalucía) - Secret Serrania de Ronda - 2021

Día de Andalucía – Monday 28 February 2022

My Andalucia Day - a personal serendipity – 2023

Back to the “Bridge” – St George’s Day

Por qué se celebra el 28-F el día de Andalucía                                             Franco lies in state [Daily Mail]    

What is a guiri? - Olive Press News Spain The OP has a paywall so you may not get to read the article. Try here instead for a similar article:                               

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad?

© The History Man

Photos:

Daily Mail, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Posters.es, saedyn, 

Acknowledgements:

Eye on Spain, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, RTVE, Secret Serranía, The Olive Press 

Tags:

17 autonomous regions, 28 February 1980, andaluces, Andalucía, bad weather, celebrating with family and friends, Daily Mail, death of the dictator General Franco, democracy, día festivo, drink-drivers, extra-long weekend, Eye on Spain, foreigners, guardia civil, guiri, heavy downpour, heavy rain, holiday of obligation, Hotel Molino del Puente, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, La Cascada, Mass, Meter Maid, outdoor celebrations, Paul Whitelock, political and cultural history of the region, RTVE, referendum, resident, Roman Catholics, Ronda, saedyn, Secret Serranía, The History Man, The Olive Press, thunderclaps, thunderstorms,

áéíóú

The worst day in British history?

Forget 1066 and the Norman Invasion. Forget the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Forget also Oliver Cromwell, the murder of Thomas Beckett, the reign of Henry VIII, the First World War, World War II and the Holocaust.

I wasn’t around to witness those events.

For me the worst day in British History was 23 June 2016 when the UK voted to leave the European Union. Based on lies promoted by Nigel Farage, then leader of UKIP, and Bojo The Clown, alias Boris Johnson.

    [Image  courtesy of Dachser]

To actually leave took another four years of flawed negotiation by Johnson, the now discredited former prime minister.

    Nigel Farage [Photo: Times Higher Education]           Boris Johnson [Photo: Heraldo de Aragón]

31 January, 2020

Five years ago on this day was the date of Brexit, the day the UK actually left the European Union. The referendum had taken place just less than four years earlier and was arguably the worst day of my life.

I stayed up all night to watch the results coming in. From a bright beginning, the first result to be declared was Gibraltar, the British protectorate off southern Spain. 98 per cent voted to remain.

It got worse from then on.

[Image courtesy of ANPE Cantabria]    

In the end the vote was: Yes 51.9%; No 48.1%

Sense of loss

As a languages student, I travelled more often to the continent than within my home country.

I got to know France, Germany and Spain particularly well, but also visited Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Soviet Union and Sweden.

So, I was a true European and, when it came to the referendum, I was a committed remainer, following prime minister David Cameron’s ill-fated decision to offer the British population a vote on the issue.

Although I am not a Conservative, I liked Cameron until he spoiled his legacy with this huge faux pas.

Map of Europe [Wikipedia]    

Five years on

And where did Brexit leave us?

“Up shit creek without a paddle”.

I find it a terrible shame that the Labour Party did not commit to re-joining the European Union or at least the Customs Union.

This has left the UK adrift between the huge European bloc of 27 countries and the pariah of a country that the USA is destined to become under president Donald J Trump, a convicted felon and all-round bad guy.

[Cartoon courtesy of Reddit]    

© The History Man

    [Image courtesy of El Periódico]

Acknowledgements:

ANPE Cantabria, BBC, Dachser, El Periódico, Heraldo de Aragón, Reddit, Sky News, Times Higher Education (THE), Wikipedia

Tags:

1066, 23 June 2016, 31 January 2020, ANPE Cantabria, Austria, bad guy, Belgium, Bojo The Clown, Boris Johnson, Brexit, BBC, Conservative, convicted felon, Customs Union. Czech Republic, Dachser, David Cameron, Denmark, discredited former prime minister, Donald J Trump, El Periódico, European, European bloc of 27 countries, European Union, faux pas, First World War, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Fire of London, Great Plague, Greece, Henry VIII, Heraldo de Aragón, History Man, Holocaust, Ireland, Labour Party, leave the European Union, Luxembourg, murder of Thomas Beckett, Norman Invasion, Netherlands, Norway, Oliver Cromwell, pariah, Portugal, Reddit, referendum, re-joining the European Union, remainer, Sky News, Soviet Union, Spain, spoiled his legacy, Sweden, THE, Times Higher Education, “Up shit creek without a paddle”, UK, USA, Wikipedia, World War II, worst day in British History, 

áéíóúü

It was 20 years ago yesterday, Boxing Day, that a massive tsunami devasted communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.

The countries whose coastal areas were affected included India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Thailand. The wave even reached the east coast of Africa.

The tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and loss of life on the rim of the Indian Ocean.

Factfile

On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time, a major earthquake, measuring a massive 9.2–9.3 on the Richter scale, struck with an epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The undersea earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma plate and the Indian plate.

The direct results of this huge tsunami with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) high, caused major disruptions to living conditions and commerce in coastal provinces of surrounding countries.

It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century, one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst tsunami disaster in history.

It is also the worst natural disaster in the history of Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Asia, the most powerful earthquake in the 21st century, and at least the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900. 

It had the longest fault rupture ever observed, between 1,200 km and 1,300 km and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, at least ten minutes. It caused the planet to vibrate as much as 10 mm (0.4 in), and also remotely triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska. 

Its epicentre was between Simeulue and mainland Sumatra. The plight of the affected people and countries prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, with donations totalling more than US$14 billion.

20 years on

The recovery of these communities has been amazing. Obviously, the shock and grief experienced two decades ago is still ever present in the hearts and minds of survivors and the bereaved.

On this 20^th anniversary the media has “gone to town”, interviewing survivors, including locals and foreigners who were there on holiday, and illustrating how they have processed what happened and how they have coped with the loss of loved ones. Many have involved themselves in charity work and continue to support the communities affected.

“The Impossible” (feature film)

Eight years after the tragedy a remarkable film was released by Warner Bros. The English language-Spanish collaboration “Lo Imposible” was directed by Juan Antonio García Bayona and written by Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez two Spanish film-makers in their 40s.

The film featured international actors, including Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Geraldine Chaplin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring, Douglas Johansson and Emilio Riccardi.

The film was well-received by critics and received numerous nominations and awards, including Oscars, Golden Globes and from the Screen Actors Guild.

   Naomi Watts [Aventura y Naturaleza]       [Photo: 20Minutos]                                   The cast at an Award Ceremony [El Diario]

You can watch the entire film in English here: The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print

© The Culture Vulture/The History Man

Links:

The Impossible (2012 film) - Wikipedia

The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print

Photos:

20Minutos, Aventura y Naturaleza, BBC News, El Diario, Muy Interesante, Wikipedia, WordPress

Acknowledgements:

Wikipedia, www.bing.com, www.britannica.com, www.premiososcar.net

Tags:

14 countries, 20 years on, 21st century, 227,898 people, Alaska, Boxing Day, Douglas Johansson, earthquake, east coast of Africa, Emilio Riccardi, Ewan McGregor, Geraldine Chaplin, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Juan Antonio García Bayona, “Lo Imposible”, Maldives, Marta Etura, Naomi Watts, Pakistan, Richter scale, seismography, Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez, Simeulue, Sönke Möhring, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, "The Impossible", third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world, Tom Holland, tsunami, Wikipedia

Today celebrates the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

Christians the world over consider today to be one of the most important days in the religious calendar. In many Roman Catholic countries, it is an official “feast day”.

[Image courtesy of Freepik]

Designation as public holiday

    [Image courtesy of Reddit]

8 December is a registered public holiday in the following sovereign countries and territories:

•  Andorra
•  Argentina
•  Austria
•  Chile
•  Colombia — its people cook food and delicacies honoring this day.
•  Equatorial Guinea
•  Guam (USA)
•  Italy — it has been a national holiday since 1853. The Pope, in his capacity as Bishop of Rome, visits the Column of the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna to offer expiatory prayers commemorating the solemn event. The day marks the start of the Christmas season in the country.
•  Liechtenstein
•  Macau, China — by Government Executive Order No. 60/2000, published on 29 September 2000 and enforced into legal effect since 1 January 2001.
•  Malta
•  Monaco — it is celebrated with food festivities, particularly honoring mothers and grandmothers.
•  Nicaragua – the solemnity is celebrated with local parades and religious processions.
•  Panama – it is celebrated throughout the country as Mother's Day.
•  Paraguay
•  Peru
•  Philippines – a non-working public holiday in honour of the Immaculate Conception as Principal Patroness, signed into law on 28 December 2017.
•  Portugal
•  San Marino
•  Seychelles
•  Spain — since 8 November 1760, the day is marked as a national holiday as designated by Pope Clement XIII.
•  Switzerland — at present, 13 out of 26 cantons have elected to make this is a registered public holiday in accordance with government laws.
•  East Timor
•  Vatican
•  Venezuela

“Puente”

If a “national holiday” falls on a Sunday, the regional governments — the autonomous communities of Spain — can choose an alternate holiday, or they can allow local authorities to choose.

A “Puente” (bridge) is sometimes made between weekends and holidays that fall on Tuesday or Thursday. The “Puente” will then create a long weekend.

In 2024, 8 December falls on a Sunday, today, as a result of which Monday 9 December is also a “día festivo”.       

                                                  [Image courtesy of La Sexta]

Which is why banks, schools, universities, medical centres, government and council offices and many shops and businesses closed their doors last Thursday and won’t re-open them until next Tuesday!

Spanish-owned stores, such as Mercadona and Día remain closed on religious days.

It is noticeable, however, that foreign-owned supermarkets and DIY stores, such as Aldi, LIDL and Bauhaus, German; Al Campo, Carrefour, Supeco, Leroy Merlin and Conforama, all French; IKEA, Swedish; and JYSK, Danish, open as normal.

[Image courtesy of LinkedIn]

© The History Man

Acknowledgements:

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Secret Serranía

Wikipedia

Images:

Freepik

La Sexta

LinkedIn

Reddit

Tags:

8 December, Al Campo, Aldi, banks, Bauhaus, businesses, Carrefour, Conforama, Día, “día festivo”, DIY stores, foreign-owned supermarkets, Freepik, government and council offices, History Man, IKEA, immaculate conception, Inmaculada Concepción, JYSK, La Sexta, Leroy Merlin, LIDL, LinkedIn, medical centres, Mercadona, national holiday, “Puente”, Reddit, schools, Secret Serranía, shops, Spanish-owned stores, Supeco, universities, Virgin Mary, Wikipedia, áéíóúü

One of the most significant días festivos in Spain – in fact a national holiday – appears to be of little importance to the Spaniards where I live in Andalucía.

As I write this at 19.30 on the day itself in my local bar, there is nobody about!

I’ve spoken to a few of my Spanish neighbours, and today is not important for them. They’re just glad to have a day off!

Why is it not important?

Día de la Constitución

Today is a celebration of Spain emerging from the Franco dictatorship and becoming a fully-fledged democratic country for the first time since 1936, more than 80 years ago!

But here I sit, in my local and there’s nobody about!

***

Wait! It’s 19.40 and a bunch of Spanish hotel guests have just arrived in the bar.

I’ve just spent 20 minutes talking to them. They’re from Merida in Extremadura, my second-favourite region in Spain, and they understand the significance of today. BTW, there are 40 of them from a walking group (senderistas).

For me, as a foreigner, who has experienced Spain since Franco, the golpe de estado in 1980, the economic crash in 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic, and the current resurgence of the Spanish economy, I think that today is a very important day in the modern history of Spain.

But, that’s just me!

The locals seem only to be interested in a day off!

© The Travel Guru

Links:

Fortieth anniversary of Spain's failed coup - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Journey to the hard extreme - Extremadura - Part 1

Extremadura – Journey to the hard extreme – Part 2 - 2021

Acknowledgements:

RTVE

Sitios de España

Tags:

Andalucía, Covid-19 pandemic, Día de la Constitución, día festivo, economic crash, Extremadura, foreigner, Franco dictatorship, golpe de estado in 1980, Merida, national holiday, RTVE, resurgence of the Spanish economy, Sitios de España, Travel Guru

By The History Man

Tomorrow, November 20, is the 49th anniversary of the death of Spanish dictator General Franco. The History Man remembers the day Franco died in 1975 and writes a short history of the man who outlived by three decades his fascist contemporaries, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

General Franco is laid to rest [Photo: Daily Mail]

How I found out

In November 1975 I was a young teacher in Cheshire in the North West of England. I was in my second year of teaching Spanish. One Thursday Vicente, our somewhat dour Spanish assistant, rushed into the staff room, all smiles and talking excitedly in his native tongue. “El sinverguenza ha fallecido por fin" ("The bastard’s dead at last!”) he cried in Spanish. “Who’s dead?” I asked.

Generalísimo Franco, Spain’s dictator for almost 40 years, had finally passed away after a lengthy illness. Vicent, as he became at a stroke, was thrilled to bits. Apart from all the atrocities that could be laid at Franco’s door, he had for forty years repressed the linguistic minorities in Spain. The Basques, the Catalans and the Galicians were forbidden to use their native languages euskera, catalán and gallego. So, also the Valencians. Vicent was a valenciano, so from that November day on he decided he would be known by his nombre valenciano, Vicent.

This policy of linguistic repression was somewhat odd, given that Francisco Franco Bahamonde was a gallego, born in El Ferrol in Galicia in 1892 into an upper-class military family.       

Languages of Spain [Image courtesy of Reddit]

Franco's early career

Franco enrolled in the Spanish Army as a cadet and rose quickly through the ranks to become brigadier general aged 33, the youngest general in Spain. 

After leading the suppression of the 1934 uprising in Asturias, Franco was briefly elevated to Chief of Army Staff before the 1936 election moved the leftist Popular Front into power, relegating him to the Canary Islands. After initial reluctance, he joined the July 1936 military coup which sparked the Spanish Civil War.

During the civil war, he commandeered Spain’s colonial army in Africa and, after the deaths of many of the rebel leadership, became his faction’s only leader, later appointed Generalísimo and Head of State in 1936.

Three years later the Guerra Civil ended when the nationalists declared victory which extended Franco’s dictatorship over Spain through a period of repression of political opponents. His dictatorship’s use of forced labour, concentration camps, and executions led to between 30,000 and 50,000 deaths after the war. Combined with wartime killings, this brings the death toll of the so-called “White Terror” to between 100,000 and 200,000.

In post-Civil-War Spain, Franco ruled with more power than any Spanish leader before or since, and developed a cult of personality around his rule by founding the Movimiento Nacional. During World War II he maintained Spanish neutrality but supported the Axis, whose members Italy and Germany had supported him during the Civil War, in various ways, thereby damaging the country’s international reputation.

    [Photo courtesy of Wikipedia]

Franco as Spanish dictator

During the start of the Cold War, Franco lifted Spain out of its mid-20th century economic depression through technocratic and economically liberal policies, presiding over a period of rampant growth known as the “Spanish miracle”.

Franco started struggling with Parkinson’s disease in the 1960s. Owing to advanced age and illness, in 1973 he resigned as prime minister, separated from the head of state office since 1967, but remained in power as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the military.

Always a monarchist, Franco had restored the monarchy in his final years, by nominating Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor to the role of head of state.

Two days after his death, Juan Carlos became King of Spain, and led the Spanish transition to democracy.

    Juan Carlos with Franco [Libertad Digital]

Spain post-Franco

The legacy of Franco in Spanish history remains controversial as the nature of his dictatorship changed over time. His reign was marked by both brutal repression, with thousands killed, and economic prosperity, which greatly improved the quality of life in Spain.

His dictatorial style proved highly adaptable, which enabled wide-sweeping social and economic reform, while consistent pursuits during his reign centred on highly centralised government, authoritarianism, nationalism, national Catholicism, anti-freemasonry, and anti-communism.

Franco was controversially buried in the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen), the huge mausoleum outside Madrid he had built by the forced labour of political prisoners to honour the dead of both sides in the Civil War. He was the only person interred there who did not die during the conflict.

After much campaigning, in October 2019 Franco’s remains were removed from the Valley and reburied alongside his wife, Carmen, in a cemetery near Madrid.

    Valle de los Caídos [Photo: La Vanguardia]

Endpiece

Back in that staff room in Cheshire in 1975, I don’t think Vicent or I or anyone else thought that Spain’s transition to democracy and a constitutional monarchy would be so rapid and successful.

"The bastard’s dead, long live the King!"

© The History Man

With thanks to:

Daily Mail

La Vanguardia

Libertad Digital

Paul Whitelock

Wikipedia

Recommended reading:

Between Two Fires by David Baird (Maroma Press, 2008)

Guerra by Jason Webster (Black Swan, 2006)

The Spanish Civil War – A Very Short Introduction by Helen Graham (Oxford UP, 2005)

The Rise and Fall of King Juan Carlos I

Tags:

Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Between Two Fires, communism, David Baird, death, democracy, dictator, General Franco, Guerra, Helen Graham, Jason Webster, Juan Carlos, king, Paul Whitelock, Spain, Spanish Civil War, Valle de los Caídos, Valley of the Fallen, Wikipedia, World War II