The History Man

Yesterday, 26 July, Spain celebrated El Dia Mundial de los Abuelos. Although the date is different in other countries, this recognition of the crucial role grandparents play in the family and the community is important: they teach; they take care of their children and grandchildren; and they leave behind a lasting legacy.

[unCOMO]    

No matter how many years go by, their hugs and kisses, their stories, their advice and those tiny expressions of love always find a special place in our memories.

In Spain grandparents fufil a more important role than in Northern Europe and elsewhere. The famiy is fundamental to life. There is generally less mobility, for the typical Spaniard lives and dies where he was born. Yet the pull of the family is so strong that even those who do move away for work or study return to the family home on long weekends or for holidays.

July 26 is the chosen date in Spain because it is also the dia santo (saints' day) of Joaquin and Ana, the parents of the Virgin Mary and thus the grandparents of Jesus Christ.

[The Simple Catholic]    

    [Plataforma de Infancia]

© The History Man MMXXVI

Pictures:

Plataforma de Infancia, The Simple Catholic, unCOMO,

Thanks:

Google, Paul Whitelock, RTVE, Wikipedia,

Tags:

26 July, Ana, Dia Mundial de los Abuelos, Google, Joaquin, Paul Whitelock, Plataforma de Infancia, RTVE, The History Man, The Simple Catholic, unCOMO, Wikipedia

The Spanish Civil War officially began 90 years ago this weekend - on Friday 17 July 1936 to be precise. 

The conflict had been simmering for many years and was triggered by a series of events, starting in April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed and King Alfonso XIII went into exile.

[Wikimedia Commons]    

After five years of unrest - a failed military coup in 1932 and revolting Asturian miners in 1934 - the Popular Front coalition won the general election in February 1936, when a new republican government was formed.

The assassination of the Monarchist leader Calvo Sotelo was a prelude to the triggering of the right-wing military coup against the Republican government proclaimed in Spanish Morocco on 17 July 1936.

There followed three years of a brutal conflict between the Nationalists led by General Franco and the Republicans. Franco was supported by the Catholic Church and in some areas churches were sacked and precious artefacts destroyed for ever. In others the Nationalist troops conquered quickly and this wanton destruction was avoided, eg in Seville.

The Civil War changed the course of Spanish history and culminated in a nearly 40-year-long dictatorship led by Franco, which only ended on his death in November 1975, when his protege Don Juan Carlos, nephew of Alfonso XIII, became king, thereby restoring the monarchy to Spain.

[Wikipedia]    

Links:

Franco dead 50 years! Eye on Spain

Should Franco fade into a mere footnote in Spanish history? | Sur in English

The Truth About Franco Eye on Spain

© The History Man MMXXVI

Thanks:

Eye on Spain, RTVE, SUR in English, Tony Bryant

Images:

Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia

Tags:

Alfonso XIII, Calvo Sotelo, Eye on Spain, Franco, Juan Carlos, RTVE, SUR in English, Tony Bryant, Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia