More than 35´000 people visit cemeteries

MORE than 35'000 people flocked to cemeteries in Palma and other parts of the island yesterday, to pay their respects to the dead. Traffic flowed smoothly, as crowds were smaller than expected and many people opted to use the free bus service provided by the council. The ecumenical service held on the central esplanade of the main Palma cemetery was presided by Fr Llorenç Alzina, diocesan representative for relations with other faiths. There were representatives of the Anglican Church (Dr George Giri); the Jewish Community; the German Catholics; the Russian, Romanian and Serbian Orthodox church; the German Evangelists; the Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish Lutheran church, the Buddhist and the Baha'i communities. Shortly before the service, Mayor Catalina Cirer, who also visited the other cemeteries in Palma, laid wreaths in honour of deceased civil servants, for “those who died for freedom,” at the firemen's pantheon and at the old and new common graves. She was accompanied by several city councillors and representatives of the political parties, as well as deacon Miquel Angel Carbonell, who directed prayers as each wreath was laid. Cemeteries in other parts of the island, such as Manacor, Inca and Vilafranca, also attracted large numbers of visitors, who laid wreaths and floral arrangements at the graves of relatives.