06.02.12 - 10:39 -
feel Spanish markets would not be the same if stallholders were silent. A. salas
There was concern and even alarm in market halls around the city of Malaga last weekend after the local authority announced that a new bylaw would prohibit stallholders from “shouting out the nature of their wares or their price or calling out to customers”. In other words, anyone caught hollering to shoppers could face a 300 euro fine.
In the central Atarazanas market on Saturday there was the usual bustle but no voices were heard above the general murmur, that is, until you reached the fish section. Every so often fishmongers advertised their wares to customers with cries of “Boquerones, jureles, baratos”, or “Gambas, almejas, mejillones”; not too loud but loud enough to hear. When consulted about the City Hall’s regulation one fishmonger’s response was: “They must be bored”. “Shouting out occasionally is quite normal”, said another, “It happens in markets all over Spain”.
Even the customers were surprised by the prohibition: “It’s outrageous, especially with this crisis, that they can’t even tell people what they are selling”, said one shopper.
The reactions have already caused the local councillor, Esther Molina, to tone down the plans for a ban. She explained that they would try to limit the shouting and the noise levels but would not prohibit the traditional selling techniques that make the markets lively and boost sales.
