Los banquetes republicanos en la España de la Restauración: comensalidad y ritual político

Abstract

Since the monarchy was restored in 1874, the First Republic became an object of veneration in the republican ranks, where a myth was nourished that, in some way, replicated the negative image established by its adversaries. The most idiosyncratic ritualized practice of republicanism in this period were political banquets, among which those motivated by February 11 stood out. It is a form of commensality that equaled those who fraternized by sharing a tablecloth and for which more popular and democratic alternatives were proposed. This paper analyzes the main characteristics and functions of this political ritual, including the justifications for the act, the venues, the scenery, the profile of the attendees, the structure followed and the certain trivialization that they incurred when the 20th century arrived. For this, historical newspapers, memoirs and some other primary sources have been used.