Mallorca: 300 mark Spain's national day in Palma

Mallorca: around 300 people gather in Palma’s Plaza Mayor on Friday, 9 October, as Spain’s flag rises to the national anthem. Soldiers, police officers, officials and other attendees are there to mark Día de la Hispanidad, Spain’s national day, which falls on 12 October.

The ceremony recalls the expedition led by Christopher Columbus to the Americas, its landing on the island of San Salvador and the uniting of Spain’s kingdoms under one crown. A soldier calls the day a celebration of unity and fellowship. She notes that more than 500 million people worldwide speak Spanish.

Representatives of the navy, National Police, Guardia Civil and Palma’s local police carry the flag from Sant Miquel street to the flagpole. After it is raised, the ceremony turns to those who died in service. Armed forces and police representatives lay a wreath beneath the flag as La muerte no es el final, a song used at Spanish military memorials, plays.

Ricardo Esteban, head of the Balearic General Command, closes the ceremony by calling the national flag a shared heritage of all Spaniards. He also points to an exhibition at the Centre for Military History and Culture that is open to the public for Día de la Hispanidad.

Topics: Police · Culture · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com