Easter, Spanish popular traditions

In Spain a 73,2% of the population are Catholics and the country has a strong Christian tradition. During the first week of April, Catholics celebrate Easter - the most important Christian holiday after Christmas.

In Spain there are a total of 41 considered Holy Week celebrations of National Tourist Interest. It is also visible that Spain celebrates Easter Week much more than most European countries. The Semana Santa (Holy week) refers to the the Christian holy period that runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It is specially important for Catholics and it is one of the most popular religious celebrations in Spain. The Spanish people deeply feel and live the Easter holidays.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Holy Lent period which remember the humanity that “We came from dust, and we will become dust again” and represents the 40 days of preparation for Holy week in which people realize their sinful situation and gives the opportunity to develop during these forty days of prayer, alms-giving and fasting. Easter ends on Resurrection Sunday of Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday, an age-old tradition on the first day win which Spain brings out with the mantle for the Christian Holy Week. This day represents, according to the Catholic tradition, the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This day is the beginning of the Holy Easter week. During this time, Christians should remember the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The start of this holiday is marked by the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Palm Sunday is the Sunday prior to that moon, therefore, every year the dates vary.

Festivity and tradition

Easter holidays in Spain takes different forms and has different traditions in in each part of Spain. In the North, in places like in Zamora, Burgos or Valladolid, they have the most ancient traditions where the first processions were held in the fifteenth century. This celebration has particular relevance in southern cities of the peninsula, since people tend to be more devout.

Córdoba, located in the South of Spain in Andalusia, holds a popular tradition for the commemoration of the last days of Jesus´ life. Representations of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried on the backs of believers´ in a procession through the streets of the city to show their splendor. They are accompanied by bands, solemn music and dressed to depict the Nazarenes, people from Nazareth. Each procession belongs to a neighborhood church. People go out on the streets to praise the Lord and the Virgin, while the streets are covered in the fog and smell of incense and wax, which is burnt by people performing the procession.

After Easter, Pentecost is celebrated. This represents the “Ascension of the Lord into heaven” and the “Coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles”.

There are many other festivities and celebrations after this period. In the Southeast of Spain, in Alicante, there is a pilgrimage to see the Holy Face a veil at a Monastry which was used to wipe off Christ’s blood. On the other hand, in Seville, Andalusia, people celebrates the pilgrimage of Rocio´s Virgin. Each year millions of pilgrims from around the world begin a journey on foot, horseback or in wagons to get to your destination, the hermitage of Rocio Virgin in a town called Almonte. This year it will take place on May, 27^th. It can be said that the majority of Spanish population feels and moves to the beat of religious holidays throughout the year.

March 29th: Spain´s National Strike against labor reform

Today, Mariano Rajoy, the new Spanish president since past November, faces his first general strike on March 29th, 2012. The economic measures proposed by his government for 2012 have provoked an upsurge among the Spanish population. The unfavorable economic situation which Spain is undergoing is spearheaded by consumption and monetary behaves. These factors are leading the population to the greatest mobilization in social arenas that has been seen in years.

Spain’s government has seen a change in its political ideology from left to right-wing in the previous elections. The political agenda of the new government is aimed to protect entrepreneurs and bankers, leaving aside the biggest losers of the financial crisis, the workers.

"Unite and fight for our future. 29M general strike"

The purpose of the strike is to make the new government rectify its agenda and not to apply their new labor reform that will harm workers’ rights. Unions and workers will rally in a full day general strike to protect labor sector through actions where members of the population will participate in a consumer strike by not buying or hiring any service, not driving or refueling automobiles, not using the public transportation or other services that are not emergencies and minimizing the use of telephone, water, gas and electricity for a day.

Will the general strike get the attention of the new government?

Many videos and comments are circulating through social networks supporting the demonstration by defending social rights. There are blogs that encourage people to support the strike by explaining why it is necessary to attend the movement. There is even a website, where it is possible to make companies public that will not allow its workers to go to the strike.

Strike or not? – Pros and Cons

The Arturo Soria IES assembly gives arguments for the people who do not want to go on strike, such as: “The strike is not a solution”. However, a counter-argument can say: “The strike is not a solution, is the most powerful instrument of pressure that workers currently have at our disposal to enforce our rights in a totally unjustified aggression”. For those who think like: “The strike will be for naught”, the answer could be: “Historically, all improvements of workers have been won through struggles. This strike is only the beginning, but it is a very important step”. And finally, others could say: “Spain can not stand a strike”. However, “what the country can not stand is a labor reform that will not solve the unemployment problem and cause more layoffs and instability in the new contracts. The country can not support tax increases, pay visits of the Pope, F1 circuits, airports without planes, patterns of corruption and privileges of the royal family – and the general strike is the only way to say, enough”.

"On thursday 29th, this establishment will be closed"

According to the Bank of Spain, the Iberian Peninsula continues in economic recession in the first quarter of the year, reaching one of the highest unemployment rates in the Europe with almost five million people out of work in February 2012. This has provoked fed up citizens to go on a general consumption and work strike. The main purpose is to demonstrate against the new labor reforms where measures are aimed to make dismissal cheaper for employers and reduce compensation for unfair dismissal. Also, these measures will incorporate new hiring conditions that will make employment situation more precarious for workers by removing the redundancy payment given to employees when they are layed off. Finally, this new labor reform will allow working conditions to worsen therefore warranting employers to not partake in the collective agreement.

This Royal Decree of labor reform has been ratified in the House of Representatives supported by the representatives of the PP, CiU, UPN and FAC and without the approval of the PSOE, Plural Left, PNV, and UPyD and the rest of the “Mix Group”. A total of 197 deputies against 142 members, respectively.

At the moment, Rajoy and his People’s Party (PP) have lost some support in the past Sunday’s regional elections in the provinces of Andalusia and Asturias. This could mean a negative response to the most recent enacted economic and social cuts. The Spanish population’s response will be observed by the world this coming Thursday, March 29^th to see whether the government will do an about-face on their social and economic reforms or if they will continue their path even though they are facing great resistance from the Spanish population.

Reorienting journalism towards alternative media

Nowadays, traditional practices of journalism have to deal with different forms to reach their audience. New technologies are expanding the possibilities to produce and find free information online, what makes media organization more competitive. Newspapers are threatened by Internet along with the possibility that citizens can give feedback and discuss the news without the control of private or public media institutions.

To understand better this phenomena, pros and cons and consequences, it is necessary to define these new trends of journalism. For that purpose, Stephen Lacy, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and a professor in the Michigan State University Department of Communication and School of Journalism, contributed in this project giving an explanation about what the purpose of citizen sites are and how it does affect the profession of journalism. Lacy explains that,

“Some citizen sites (blogs) are primarily expressions of opinion. A smaller number of citizen sites are news sites, which tend to have the same fact-based approach as commercial news organizations. The difference comes from availability of resources and knowledge of journalism. Our research indicates that citizen site tend to complement not substitute for commercial news organizations. Over time, it is possible that citizen sites might evolve into commercial sites.”

Therefore, based on experts opinions and review of prior literature, it is possible to explain alternative media as a way where citizens become an active audience producing and distributing news content online. However, some questions come into mind where thinking about this phenomena, “Is it a threatened or a complement of professional journalism?” one answer could be that alternative media news-sites can construct a reality that appears to oppose the conventions and representations of the mainstream media.

We know that Internet offers many alternatives for citizens to get knowledge about the world, specially in terms of news web sites, however their interests might not be the same topics as the ones mainstream media news-sites transmit. People delve into the net to know what it is going on in the world within a wider perspective. Therefore, the main interests behind this research project are to know how these alternative news-sites (blogs, independent news sites...) can change or challenge the way citizen are informed.

It is significant to observe how the audience react to the government restrictions of press, and what and how the profession of journalism can change due to the inclusion of the audience as major players in the process of production and dissemination of “news”. There are many differences of freedom of press among countries and since the governments try to control the information published, citizens would need to go beyond media-center protocols and compare, verify and check information in other websites to create a complete picture of the story. Besides, citizens become more than an active audience but producers of information, storytellers, etc with a more important role to play in the information online world.

There are some others key elements that need to be taken into account when talking about online news: access of technology, knowledge about current events or personal motivation can affect the results of why citizen journalism can be more valuable in some countries than others. Naturally, citizens have a word to say in this aspect. Therefore, through surveys conducted among the target group researches will know which factors are seen as more relevant than others where consume information online. Respondents will give the answer and the results will be analyzed in order to compare the freedom situation of news sites in those two countries.

This phenomena could give a new perspective about under what circumstances journalism is developed, what it is the role of governments and what alternatives the journalistic profession has. These can change the way we, the audience, look at journalism only as professional practice or also an activity where everybody can contribute one way or another. The challenge appears whether citizen are well prepare to act as journalists without the respective academic formation.

However, the most important question that really affects journalism is, how can journalism get rid of economic and political pressures from government and media companies?. Only then, we will appreciate a real change in journalistic practices.

The why... because of you...

One day somebody asked me one question, "why did you join us?" As I thought, the answer was easy, at least it seemed : "because I love these countries". I still have the same reasons to corroborate this sentence, however I did not imagine that I will find such a good place, or better said, such a great people... Now I see there is more than I can tell you, because the best feeling is to experience it.

The Scandinavian landscapes are one of the best precious treasures the world can keep. The mountains, the green and white meadows and valleys, the forests and of course its fjords. I fell in love with Norway last year, after living there for 10 months. The greatest time in a long time. I have visited fabulous places, I have hanged out with really cool people from everywhere in the world, and I am glad to say that many of them are still close to my heart.

Border line. Sweden on the left, Norway on the right

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Scandinavian people, specially Norwegians, told me once that they only have two seasons "The green winter, and the white winter" and it is true, they are cold countries, but by cold I also mean that you can really breathe, feel the nature on you, this cool breeze that runs through your body and refreshes you per seconds. What I felt in that moment, it was just freedom. However, these countries have more that wonderful landscapes. The cold weather does not reflect the warm heart of their people. I felt welcome since the first time I met them, I went into their houses, I cooked, partied or played sports with them, and I still do. What to say about their level of life. Great laws about security, natality, jobs, steady economy, high level of education and many other things you must figure out for yourself coming here. I can say Scandinavian countries are some places that you can not afford to miss visiting.

Aarhus, Denmark

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After living in Norway and travel to Sweden and Findland I knew that I had to come here, the last of my lovely Scandinavian countries; Danmark. I finished my BA on Journalism, and I decided to apply for a Master. I knew that two things had to match: Scandinavian place and communication studies. Found it! I am living in Denmark since last August, and I am studying what I wanted, a Maters in Journalism, Media and Globalization, something that I will tell about you other day. The thing is that I came here, and I found also you, "The Youth Goodwill Ambassador Corps". And without hesitating I knew I would join you.

As I said, I thought I knew the answer of the question you told me the first day: "Why...".

However, after three months living here I found something else, I found Denmark deeply nude, I found what its people call "Danish culture", "hygge", but also I found all you "International Youth Ambassadors". Now I can tell you a more complete answer: "I joined you because I want to know everything about you, Denmark, but also because I found that your people fill my every day here"

Thank you for the trip to Copenhage, thanks for the 07/ 12/ 2011 Christmas dinner, and above all, thanks to welcome me to your life, Denmark. It is a pleasure to be here, and of course to share this experience with all of you, my friends.

What to say more... Love you Scandinavia.

Copenhage ------------------------------------------------------------Oslo

Götemborg------------------------------------------------------- Findland

Dreaming to see you again

I am here talking to you for the first time in a long time. I barely remember your face, your touch, your smile but I still can feel your warmth close to me. I do not remember when I met you the first time, but I am sure it was magic. What I do remember the last time I saw you. You wore a white shirt, we were all together; it was a special day. However, I did not know I will remember that day for the rest of my life. This was the end of the happy story. But not the end of the book.

I growth up having your image in my mind, hiding all your memories, but you were always present in my everyday. Those times were tough times, but I had a great company by my side who I will never leave apart. I did not feel alone, although I simply did not feel. There was cold, there was no unity, there was no love.

I do not know where you went, and I do not where I was, but today I can tell you, my still fighting, I am still alive, and everything is thanks to you. After many years, things come back to their natural place, but everything seems different. Those time were tough times, we missed you, but nobody talked about it. I was young, innocent and ignorant. And that made me fall and fall again. That hurt, but I did not realize that I was not fighting alone, even if we were not fighting together. I lost you many times, but I never forgot you, and you have never left me alone.

Time passed, and with it also the bad memories. We found the way to meet again, overcoming the
differences. We found each other again, and your memory has made us stronger. Things are different, but that does not mean negative. We learned, I did, and I am still doing so.

Those times were hard times, but I am still fighting, I am still alive, and everything is thanks to you. We love each other, we are again together and we still miss you. This day I missed more than only you... I remember everyday that you are still with me, and we are again all together. Different place, different live...same feeling.

What it is, what is was and what it can be

In this globalized world, people share political ideas, ideals and social affairs. We are concerned about what it is happening in the world, and Internet gives us the possibility to do so. This is just a small example of what global public sphere is creating. If you live in the West, what is was considered the world, you will have an idea of the facts that probably will not be reflected totally with the reality. Now, media tries to develop a new scenario where everybody can express their
opinions through the networks. My favorite example is Al Jazeera news channel. The revolutionary Arabic channel is now competing with the largest and until the moment the mainstream media broadcast channel. The polarization between the West and the Rest is now narrower.

Not only as a journalist, but as a citizen you must be able to create your own opinion of the fact. Governmental press and tycoon enterprises no longer have the power to roll the world in their own benefit. Now facebook, twitter and a variety of websites offer an alternative to inform the audience about what is happening across borders from different perspectives. The famous sentence "everything that appear on tv is true" is questioning, and therefore also media in general. There are many social movements that are trying to change the rules established from the elites. Occupy Wall Street movement is the current example of people mobilized to fight for what they believe. This movement started in New York was spread all over the world with physical manifestations, but also with virtual activism through Internet.

Taking the strikes on Seattle November 1991 against corporate organizations (anti-WTO) as one of the major examples of this social justice movements, we can see who people move away from government positions and express their ideas and opinions of what it can be a better world.

There are global issues that affect all of us, and if we do not express our opinion to create a real democracy, governments will continue acting as "everything for the people, but without the people"

Join "them"

Expectations have been met: Spanish People´s Party (PP) will lead the country for the next four years. I am scary. Big words appear in my mind: Protectionism. Cutting. Control. Reforms. Changes...

All these words are associated with different areas in economic, political and especially social policies: Protectionism of the market, control from the state under enterprises, privatization of social services, education cuts, reform on the law of dependency law reform, regulation on the political system, ect.

As a consequence of the crisis, many governments have changed their political structure in the countries. In Europe, first it was Greece who changed its political government to the economist Papademos as a new head of the country. Italy was next with the resignation of Berlusconi and the establishment of a provisional government with M. Monti as a new Prime Minister. Now it is the time for Spain. Mariano Rajoy waas elected yesterday 20 of November as a new President of Spain. As his program says, "[He] will be the President of all Spanish people, and he will always set the common interest above any particullar interest".

However, and altough he got the absoluty majority on the eleccions and the Spanish mainland has been "dyed on blue" (the color of PP´s party), there are still different perceptions on how to procede with the changes. In that sense, I am restless. Many untouched areas as homosexuality, abortion law, privatizing health care and the next changes on education and pensions will provoke conflicts between different ideologies, and mentalities (here the Catholic Church plays an special role). I do not know how Rajoy will address these issues, but they will not be easy, and he will not be able to meet the demands of everyone, but if I could meet the needs of the disadvantaged (i.e. homosexuals, but do not know if that's what it includes his social policy...). What is necessary is a change in the course of the economy and to restore confidence of the Spanish is the first challenge of the new president, both within Spain and its role with the European Union (especially satisfying the demands of the European Central Bank).

There is a delicate time for Spain where the right decisions have to be made the sooner the better. I personally think that even I do not share some of the social policies of the People´s Party and the changes they are going to make, they are now how can solve the economic problems in Spain, let them act...but at the moment, as I said, change is served.