Spain shines at Christmas

Getting ready for the holiday season

1 de 2 | Ceremony for turning on the Christmas lights in Madrid. | Fernando Alvarado

Ceremony for turning on the Christmas lights in Madrid

2 de 2 | A woman stands beside a part of one kilometre-long Christmas illuminations with the colours of the Spanish flag, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Madrid. | SERGIO PEREZ

A woman stands beside a part of one kilometre-long Christmas illuminations with the colours of the Spanish flag in Madrid
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ReutersMadrid27/11/2020 10:34
TW
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Spain's capital Madrid turned on its Christmas lights on Thursday, spending more than last year to illuminate 30 additional streets and squares despite a sharp economic downturn driven by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ceremonia de encendido navideño en la capital

Banners of LED lights in the red and yellow of the Spanish flag appeared in parts of the city, including stretches of over a kilometre alongside the central boulevard that runs past the world-famous Prado museum.

A man walks past at a part of one kilometre-long Christmas illuminations with the colours of the Spanish flag in Madrid

The lights are usually an important tourist attraction, but this year there are far fewer people on the streets due to the pandemic.

Ceremonia de encendido navideño en la capital

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The cost of lighting the over 200 decorated streets is budgeted at 3.17 million euros ($3.8 million), slightly higher than the 3.08 million euros a year ago.

Cars are seen under a part of a one kilometre-long Christmas illuminations with the colours of the Spanish flag in Madrid

Plans to spend even more on the lights were scuppered by the COVID-19 crisis, the council said in a statement.

A woman stands beside a part of one kilometre-long Christmas illuminations with the colours of the Spanish flag in Madrid

Spain forecasts economic output will fall 11.2% this year, after 2% growth last year, due to the effects of the pandemic.

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