SHOPPERS in Spain are planning on making a head-start on their Christmas gift-buying on 'Black Friday', according to research, and will spend an average of more than €200 each on global 'discount day'.
'Penitence' in court: Barrister's mirth at dry cleaner's receipt and Easter parade link
25/03/2021
SPAIN is missing its fiestas so much that, for some residents, these are uppermost on their minds – especially with Easter on the horizon and the probability of the hauntingly-emotional Good Friday parades being off the agenda for the second year running.
This repeat disappointment is such a hot topic that a barrister even found he could not escape it at his local dry cleaner's.
Ignacio Sanz, a criminal lawyer and partner of the firm Sanz Cabrejas, took his court gown to be cleaned and seven of his shirts for professional washing and ironing.
He tweeted a copy of the receipt and expressed his mirth at the description on it of his newly-fresh wardrobe items.
The barrister's gown had been noted down as an Easter parade brotherhood costume, or Nazareno tunic – the type worn by those playing the part of repenting, self-punishing sinners during the Good Friday procession.
“I knew my profession involved a fair bit of suffering, but it's a long way short of our cloaks being called penitents' gowns,” he said on his site, @SanzyCabrejas.
Other barristers commented on the tweet, saying dry cleaners' descriptions of their own gowns had also given them a holy connection: They had appeared on the receipts as 'cassocks', worn by priests.
The Spanish legal profession does not make the same distinction as the UK between solicitors, who handle legal affairs and prepare cases but do not necessarily have rights of audience in court, and barristers, who are responsible for representing a defendant or plaintiff – a lawyer in Spain will typically do both.
As for court gowns, these are extremely difficult to clean and iron at home, and clearly, have to look immaculate when in use, meaning the €18.85 Ignacio Sanz pays for his to be made to look like new is very much worth it and probably cheap at the price, especially with the 10% off through his loyalty card which the receipt shows.
This also reveals that for his shirts to be washed, including stain-remover and whitener, and ironed, meaning the result will be more professional than can be achieved at home by a busy full-time worker, came in at just €1.23 each, again with a loyalty card discount, giving a total bill of €27.44 including IVA, or value-added tax, at 21%.
In other words, dry cleaning costs in Spain in general are very reasonable indeed.
Concerning this year's fiestas, it is likely parts of some of these will go ahead in summer, subject to the usual anti-Covid measures – town councils are discussing how, and if, they can proceed with these, although most have not reached set conclusions.
It is probable that certain aspects, such as open-air discos, foam parties and boozy gatherings in general will not be allowed, but sit-down music concerts and street theatre are easier to organise with the requisite social distancing and compulsory masks.
Public and fiesta club outdoor meals may hang in the balance, but even if these go ahead, the typical format will have to be altered – the tradition of communal plates of food which everyone dips into will definitely be out, at least for another year.
Related Topics
SPAIN is missing its fiestas so much that, for some residents, these are uppermost on their minds – especially with Easter on the horizon and the probability of the hauntingly-emotional Good Friday parades being off the agenda for the second year running.
This repeat disappointment is such a hot topic that a barrister even found he could not escape it at his local dry cleaner's.
Ignacio Sanz, a criminal lawyer and partner of the firm Sanz Cabrejas, took his court gown to be cleaned and seven of his shirts for professional washing and ironing.
He tweeted a copy of the receipt and expressed his mirth at the description on it of his newly-fresh wardrobe items.
The barrister's gown had been noted down as an Easter parade brotherhood costume, or Nazareno tunic – the type worn by those playing the part of repenting, self-punishing sinners during the Good Friday procession.
“I knew my profession involved a fair bit of suffering, but it's a long way short of our cloaks being called penitents' gowns,” he said on his site, @SanzyCabrejas.
Other barristers commented on the tweet, saying dry cleaners' descriptions of their own gowns had also given them a holy connection: They had appeared on the receipts as 'cassocks', worn by priests.
The Spanish legal profession does not make the same distinction as the UK between solicitors, who handle legal affairs and prepare cases but do not necessarily have rights of audience in court, and barristers, who are responsible for representing a defendant or plaintiff – a lawyer in Spain will typically do both.
As for court gowns, these are extremely difficult to clean and iron at home, and clearly, have to look immaculate when in use, meaning the €18.85 Ignacio Sanz pays for his to be made to look like new is very much worth it and probably cheap at the price, especially with the 10% off through his loyalty card which the receipt shows.
This also reveals that for his shirts to be washed, including stain-remover and whitener, and ironed, meaning the result will be more professional than can be achieved at home by a busy full-time worker, came in at just €1.23 each, again with a loyalty card discount, giving a total bill of €27.44 including IVA, or value-added tax, at 21%.
In other words, dry cleaning costs in Spain in general are very reasonable indeed.
Concerning this year's fiestas, it is likely parts of some of these will go ahead in summer, subject to the usual anti-Covid measures – town councils are discussing how, and if, they can proceed with these, although most have not reached set conclusions.
It is probable that certain aspects, such as open-air discos, foam parties and boozy gatherings in general will not be allowed, but sit-down music concerts and street theatre are easier to organise with the requisite social distancing and compulsory masks.
Public and fiesta club outdoor meals may hang in the balance, but even if these go ahead, the typical format will have to be altered – the tradition of communal plates of food which everyone dips into will definitely be out, at least for another year.
Related Topics
More News & Information
A MIXED online and in-person awards ceremony for the 'Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain' saw everyone from Paralympic sporting greats to national politicians, artists and writers through to chief executive officers...
A 'RETRO' cinema in Madrid allows customers to pay for their tickets in pesetas up to and including March 31 this year, either for immediate use or for showings later on in 2021.