MADRID — A decision by Socialist councilors in the small Andalusian town of Albanchez de Mágina to decouple a centuries-old local holiday from its patron saint’s festivities has ignited a political and religious firestorm, with opponents accusing the left-wing party of trying to erase Christian tradition.
The town, home to roughly 900 residents in the province of Jaén, has for more than 400 years held an annual series of Catholic events between May 3–6 to honor its patron, Saint Francis of Paola. The festivities include a night-time Procession of the Rosary of the Torches on May 3, followed by the main holiday on May 4, a date the town has observed as a local holiday for generations.
But this week, councilors from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), wielding an absolute majority, voted to change the schedule starting in 2027. Under the new plan, the May 4 holiday will be moved to April 30, effectively severing it from the religious celebrations that have anchored the town’s calendar for centuries.
The move has drawn sharp condemnation from the center-right People’s Party (PP), which accused the Socialists of unilaterally dismantling a beloved tradition. In a statement on Wednesday, PP local spokesperson Mario León denounced the decision as “unilateral, authoritarian, and without consensus,” claiming the true goal was to “decouple the festivities from the Christian faith and invent a secular holiday weekend.”
León said the change, which he noted has been in the works since 2025, was made without consulting opposition councilors or the Brotherhood of Saint Francis of Paola, the lay religious organization that helps organize the festivities. He insisted that neither the party’s local members nor the town’s residents support the alteration, and he called on the mayor to reverse course and restore the holiday to its traditional date.
A Break with Four Centuries of Tradition
Saint Francis of Paola (1416–1507), the founder of the Minim friars, is venerated across Italy and France for his austere lifestyle, which included living in a cave. Two French kings built convents in his honor, and his feast day has been celebrated in Albanchez de Mágina for over 400 years as a central part of the town’s identity.
The socialist councilors’ decision to move the holiday to April 30 — nearly a week before the religious events — has been interpreted by critics as a deliberate attempt to strip the day of its Catholic significance. León argued that the change effectively renders May 4 a regular working day, preventing workers and teachers from participating in the faith-based observances that have marked the date for centuries.
“That is the day that corresponds to it by history, tradition and faith,” León said, “and we request that traditions not be politically instrumentalized for political purposes.”
The PP has vowed to fight the decision, with the party warning that it will do “everything necessary and knock on every door” to ensure the Socialists “do not take away our traditions, trample on our faith, and once again set the local festivities around May 4.”
Residents Rally in Opposition
According to the Spanish newspaper ABC, local residents have also mobilized against the change. A citizens’ group of about 350 members has formed in the town with the explicit aim of preserving its traditions. The group told ABC on Thursday that the socialist councilors forged ahead with the change despite numerous conversations held over the past year on the matter.
Another citizens’ group is reportedly preparing a motion to annul the holiday change, signaling that the fight may not end with the council’s vote.
The controversy in Albanchez de Mágina reflects a broader pattern in Spain, where secularist policies enacted by left-leaning governments and local councils have frequently clashed with deeply rooted Catholic traditions. From debates over religious symbols in public spaces to the reordering of public holidays, such disputes have become a recurring flashpoint in Spanish politics.
In this case, the Socialists’ move to shift the holiday away from Saint Francis of Paola’s festivities has been cast by opponents as a step too far — an attempt to sever the town’s cultural and spiritual ties to its patron saint.
For now, the town remains split: the council’s decision stands for 2027, but the PP and residents’ groups are pressing for a reversal. The coming months are likely to see continued protests and political maneuvering as the community fights to preserve a tradition that has defined it for more than four centuries.
León’s warning was stark: the Socialists’ plan will not go unchallenged. “We will knock on every door,” he said, “to ensure that our traditions are respected.”
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/08/13/spain-uproar-after-socialists-change-local-towns-christian-holidays/