“Spain is a nation forged upon the foundations of Greek philosophy, Roman law, and Christian civilisation.” This phrase marks the beginning of the non-legislative proposal that the Vox Parliamentary Group has presented to the Parliament of the Canary Islands with the intention of prohibiting the celebration of “foreign” festivals in the autonomous community. The proposal specifically refers to one celebration, the Festival of the Lamb, a Muslim festivity, although they request that the “consolidation of foreign cultural practices” be “prevented,” which would include other types of celebrations such as Halloween, the Chinese New Year, or the Indian Holi, which are increasingly present in Spanish culture.
Prohibiting other celebrations
Specifically, Vox proposes that the regional Chamber requires both the central and autonomous governments to prohibit this celebration “or other similar commemorations that are alien to our traditions, due to their incompatibility with the identity and customs of the Spanish nation.” They also want the plenary session to express its “rejection of the holding of such a commemoration in public autonomous spaces, as it is a cultural practice alien to Spain.” Moreover, they promote that “the competent authorities” prevent “the consolidation of foreign cultural practices that do not form part of Spanish tradition and that affect social cohesion, generating tensions and internal conflicts, uprooting, and erosion of national identity.”
No voting date yet
At the moment, the proposal does not have a date for voting in parliament. The group presented it on June 9th, but it has not yet been included in the plenary agenda because, as explained by the Chamber, the political group is forwarding it to committee and is awaiting its documentation. Vox’s proposal actually does not refer to other cultural festivities; it only mentions “certain imported rites and celebrations, such as the well-known Festival of the Lamb,” which they claim “are completely alien to the customary practices that have continually shaped our national identity.” This festival is one of the most important celebrations in Islam. It commemorates the obedience of the prophet Ibrahim to God, who was willing to sacrifice his son as a test of faith, although in the end, God allowed him to offer a ram instead.
Judeo-Christian roots
It is important to note that this same scene is recounted in the Genesis of the Bible, when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of obedience to God. Thus, the reason for this celebration also forms part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Despite this root, Vox evaluates that this celebration “involves the mass sacrifice of animals as part of the ritual of a faith without notable roots in Spain, which has nothing to do with our history or our festivities.” They even consider that “its development on Spanish soil not only represents a cultural regression but also a comparative grievance towards those who preserve Spanish traditions as a valuable contribution to the spiritual life of society.”
Growing celebration
In the Canary Islands, the increasing Muslim population has made this celebration more visible. The Muslim community of Santa Cruz de Tenerife celebrated the latest Festival of the Lamb in the football field of the García Escámez neighbourhood, as the current mosque is too small to accommodate the number of worshippers. For the far-right party, it is “particularly alarming” that this festivity “receives active or passive collaboration from public administrations.” Their argument is purely cultural, as they make no reference beyond “the conscious erosion of our legacy,” which for Vox implies a “cultural surrender.”
What the Constitution says
This vision is repeated throughout the proposal without incorporating further arguments beyond the notion of national identity. In fact, they make half-hearted references to the phrase from the preamble of the Constitution. In the proposal, they only note that the text states that “the Spanish Nation […] in exercising its sovereignty, declares its will to […] protect all Spaniards and […] their cultures and traditions.” This phrase overlooks part of what really legitimises the celebration of these festivities. What the preamble states is: “The Spanish Nation, wishing to establish justice, freedom, and security and to promote the well-being of all its members, in exercising its sovereignty, declares its will to […] protect all Spaniards and the peoples of Spain in the exercise of human rights, their cultures and traditions, languages, and institutions.”
Peaceful relations in face of attack
In fact, another aim of the Constitution is to “collaborate in strengthening peaceful relations and effective cooperation among all peoples of the Earth” and even “promote the progress of culture and the economy to ensure a dignified quality of life for all.” Despite these words, which encapsulate the essence of Spanish legislation, for Vox, “the principle of the Rule of Law guarantees that it is the law that is sovereign and not the arbitrary will of a minority, which, let us not forget, has the obligation to respect the material and spiritual heritage of the country that hosts it.”
