Time Stolen: Franco’s Footprints in Modern Spain

Almost 50 Years Later, Franco’s Footprints Remain

Check out the published article here: https://medium.com/@kate.todd502/time-stolen-francos-footprints-in-modern-spain-b02b10b6f313

The year is 2026. It’s been over 50 years since Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in Spain ended with his death in November 1975. Today, a foreigner’s impressions of Spain might not deviate much from those of other modernized Western European countries: exquisite architecture, fine wine, decadent food, public health care, and, for the most part, happy citizens. Although nearly half a century has passed since Franco’s regime, the footprints of his legacy remain, subtly shaping Spaniards’ daily lives.

The Franco regime came to power in 1939 with the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War and lasted until Franco’s death in 1975. Over those 36 years, Spaniards were expected to uphold ideals of traditionalism, anti-communism, Catholicism, and centralized nationalism. These ideals manifested in many ways: limited women’s rights, Catholic-dominated education, intense censorship, and, most radically, the prosecution and death of citizens suspected of dissent. Obedience to the Church was mandatory. Contraception was banned, and women’s primary duty was seen as reproduction. Married women were prohibited from entering the workforce. Radio, literature, live art, and television were censored to align with Catholic, centralist values, while propaganda promoting Francoism and nationalism flourished. Babies were often required to be named after saints. Intellectuals, such as the poet Federico García Lorca and writer Miguel de Unamuno, faced persecution. Estimates suggest that between 200,000 and 400,000 people died as a result of abuses under Franco.

Unsurprisingly, Spaniards today often view Franco with disdain. One lingering decision with daily relevance: Spain’s time zone. In 1940, while much of the world was embroiled in World War II, Franco moved Spanish clocks forward one hour to align with Nazi Germany, despite maintaining an official stance of neutrality due to the nation’s devastation from the 1930s Civil War.

Spain had once aligned with neighboring Portugal and Morocco on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), but today clocks follow Central European Time, from France eastward to Hungary. Only the Canary Islands remain on Western European Standard Time (WEST). As a result, the sun rises and sets about an hour later than it did pre-Franco, affecting daily rhythms: lunch typically falls between 2–4 pm, dinner rarely before 9–10 pm, and Spaniards sleep, on average, about an hour less than other Europeans. Spain has considered reverting its clocks multiple times but has yet to act.

Franco’s influence on Spanish schedules extended beyond the clocks. In 1961, the regime launched a “time reform” campaign to boost productivity, aiming to abolish the siesta and standardize work and meal times earlier in the day. Restaurants, cinemas, theaters, and stores were encouraged to remain open midday and close earlier in the evening. The initiative was unpopular and largely ineffective; by 1965, most of Spain had returned to its previous schedule. Resistance to this reform highlights the waning influence of Franco in the 1960s and may have helped cement the nocturnal lifestyle Spain retains today.

Catholicism was arguably the most central pillar of Franco’s rule. It was the state religion, and citizens were required to attend mass. The Church controlled education, and babies were baptized to attend school—often legally named after saints. Families were highly regulated: children born out of wedlock or to non-practicing mothers were sometimes taken from their mothers under the guise of adoption, an issue now recognized as the “stolen babies” scandal. Today, Spain is widely secular; only 18.5% of respondents identified as practicing Catholics in 2022. In 1992, 79.9% of marriages were conducted in the Church; by 2018, only 19.8% were. The shift reflects Spain’s dramatic social transformation and the decline of religious imposition.

Since transitioning to democracy, Spain has made remarkable social and economic progress. Rapid reforms followed Franco’s death, from legalizing same-sex marriage in 2005 to implementing accessible divorce in 1981. The ruling PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) has spearheaded major advances, including the 1978 Constitution, welfare and social security programs, civil rights protections, free secular education, universal healthcare, and promotion of gender equality. Spain continues to innovate, recently moving toward menstrual leave for women.

Spain’s global legacy is immense. From political dominance to cultural influence, its language is spoken by nearly 500 million people worldwide. While Franco’s dictatorship is a dark chapter in history, Spain has reclaimed its identity and continues to thrive socially, economically, and culturally. Amid political upheaval, one fact endures: Spain’s unique way of life—its rhythms, customs, and culture—has persisted, carrying the echoes of history into the present.

Written for Medium.com