Festive feel

EVERYONE is always telling me that Palma is lacking in Christmas  spirit and that the council should do more to give the city a more festival feel. They are not wrong. While the Christmas lights are superb there is little else. Shopkeepers should be encouraged to open longer to cash in on the festive trade. It wouldn´t hurt the council to provide some sort of entertainment especially during the evening. This could consist either of choirs, the municipal band playing festive music or  a wide range of other entertainment activities.  I am sure that it would boost the coffers of  local shopkeepers and ofcourse give Palma greater festive feel. However, what one must take into account is that the majority of Spaniards still celebrate the Three Kings. The Kings  still reign supreme and Father Christmas is still a distant second. This rather explains why the city does lack that festive feel in the run-up to Christmas. No-one can fault the Three Kings parade which takes place in Palma on January 5 and a sizeable part of the  festive fun budget goes on organising  this event.  But this should be no excuse for the council not making an effort. Let us remember that the Balearic government are trying to encourage more winter tourists and Christmas is a golden opportunity. At one time the island was quite a popular festive getaway destination. So the benefit of all I would urge the local council to start working on a Christmas plan right away.