Spanish Protocol and Ceremonial PDF

# NORMATIVA DE REFERENCIA * Real Decreto 684/2010, de 20 de mayo, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de Honores Militares * Real Decreto 2099/1983, de 4 de Agosto, por el que se aprueba el Ordenamiento General de Precedencias en el Estado. * Instrucción General 05/08 # ACTOS 2- PROTOCOLO Y CEREMON...

# NORMATIVA DE REFERENCIA * Real Decreto 684/2010, de 20 de mayo, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de Honores Militares * Real Decreto 2099/1983, de 4 de Agosto, por el que se aprueba el Ordenamiento General de Precedencias en el Estado. * Instrucción General 05/08 # ACTOS 2- PROTOCOLO Y CEREMONIAL ## Generalidades * For the Royal Spanish Academy Dictionary, protocol means the diplomatic or court ceremonial rule established by decree or custom. * Ceremonial means belonging or relating to the use of ceremonies: a series or set of formalities for any public or solemn act. * As you can see from their meaning, ceremonial and protocol have a series of inseparable rules. * Protocol includes diplomatic or court ceremonial established by decree or custom, although in practice they differ in many properties. * All persons involved in the implementation of the protocol must consider four essential aspects to achieve success: 1. Protocol determines the rules to follow. 2. Ceremonial specifies the formalities. 3. Precedence sets the position. 4. Etiquette distinguishes the act. **Protocol.**- Done with solemnity or by complying with the rules of courtesy. **Ceremonial.** - Set of formalities, determined by the protocol, for any public or solemn act. **Precedence.** - Priority or precedence in the order to be determined by the positional situation, or the place by category, position or rank, that is reserved for a personality or authority that attends. **Etiquette.** - Is part of the ceremonial, which is observed in real things and in public solemn acts, and in private life, according to the customs and traditions of each particular period. ## La realización * The implementation of the protocol, ceremonial or etiquette, is the ultimate goal: social distinctions, symbolism and honors would have no meaning if they were not made a reality with the occasion of a public act. * The implementation of public acts, which are attended by State authorities and representatives of official institutions, are subject to a series of protocol rules, which consist in applying the aforementioned honors to as many attending people as have the right to them. The foresight of all this is the implementation of the protocol. * Protocol requires prior organization: on the one hand, what the current regulations stipulate, and, on the other, what at any given time is agreed upon by the authorities that decide on it. ## La organización * The organization of the protocol always implies the existence of a public act to be celebrated in the immediate future. The Head of Protocol must preserve and perfect the creative and imaginative capacity to find, at all times, original and positive solutions to the many and varied problems that arise in acts and ceremonies. * The person responsible for the organization of the act has as its fundamental objective that the planning and implementation of its protocol are perfect, regardless of any other motivation. * Public official acts may be organized by: * The Crown. * The government. * Ministries. * Autonomous Communities. * Provincial Deputations or Cabildos. * Municipalities. ## Normas * Public ceremonial has other very important facets, that must be taken care of out of courtesy to rank. They govern the order and precedence of authorities and high personalities in official acts, and are as follows: ### Colocación de personalidades en el acto * When there are two authorities attending the act, the one with the highest rank will occupy the right. * If there are three personalities attending the act, the one with the highest rank will occupy the center position, to her right the one who follows in priority and the third person will occupy the left side. * When there are four people, the authority of highest rank will occupy, of the two center places, the one on the right; the immediate one in rank the one on her left. Thus they will alternate successively: that is, right, left. * As a general rule, when the number of authorities is odd, the one with the highest rank will always occupy the central position, following the placement of the others, alternately to her right and to her left. * Always keep in mind that the one with the highest category or rank will always occupy the left of the one who is in the penultimate position. * When the number of people is even, the highest ranking authority will occupy, of the two center positions, the one on the right, the following one on her left and the one who follows her on the right first, and thus they will alternate successively. ### Caminando en orden lineal * When two people are walking, the one with the highest rank goes ahead. * If three people are walking, or any other odd number, the middle place is the first, the one who precedes the second, and the one who follows the third. ### Colocación De Personalidades En Vehículos * When it comes to official vehicles, the person with the highest category or rank will enter the vehicle from the right (in the direction of the vehicle's travel). The one with the lowest or lower category will do so from the left side of the vehicle. * When an authority invites another, of higher rank, to get into her vehicle, she must give up her place. The invitee will occupy the right side of the car, not forgetting that this person is of higher category. * When descending from the vehicle, the opposite happens: first, the one with the lowest category, and then, the one with the highest rank. ### Ascenso por escaleras y entradas a salones * Courtesy implies that when climbing a staircase, and there are several authorities or people doing so, and the space is not enough to do so in pairs, the men will do so first and then the women. Upon reaching the landing of the stairs that give access to the hall, the men will give way to the ladies so that they can access the hall before them (in the case that the entrance is not done in pairs). * When descending the stairs, the men will give way to the women and it will be them who descend first. * If two personalities take a taxi together, the one with the lowest category will enter first. When descending, it will be the same. # ACTOS PÚBLICOS ## Actos de carácter general * Those that are organized by the Crown, Government or State Administration, Autonomous Communities or Local Corporations, on the occasion of commemorations or national, autonomous, provincial or local events. ## Actos de carácter especial * Those organized by specific institutions, organizations or authorities, on the occasion of commemorations or events specific to the scope of their respective services, functions and activities. * Acts, both of General Character and of Special Character, are regulated by the Royal Decree 2099/1983. # Indumentaria para los actos ## La etiqueta masculina * The way you dress determines the importance of an act. Etiquette should be observed when necessary and should not be abused. * Male etiquette can be as follows: ### Chaqué * The morning coat is an item of formal attire to be worn during the day. Its use covers all acts that take place between nine in the morning and sunset. The following can be classified: weddings, first communions, receptions, funerals, etc. ### Frac * The tailcoat is an item of formal attire to be worn exclusively at night, in enclosed spaces. For example: intimate dinners, parties, dances, receptions, theatre and opera. * Currently the use of the tailcoat is out of use, although it is the male item of formal attire, of great gala and solemnity. ### Smoking * It is used at night, in certain meals and parties, when the tailcoat is not mandatory, for events held in enclosed spaces as well as outdoors. It will be used at dances, shows, parties, festivals... ### Uniformes de gala * They are worn by members of various entities and military corps. Gala uniforms allow all types of decorations, taking into account that each one of them is regulated. ## Vestuario femenino * The rules in women's clothing are much less strict, very much tied to the fashion of the moment. But it is true that when it comes to public events, feminine elegance must be taken care of to the fullest. And garments should be chosen according to the companion. To give a real idea of how to dress, let's see the following examples: **Hombres** * Frac * Chaqué * Smoking * Dark suit. * Some advice depending on the time of day: **Mujeres** * Long Dress. * Short Dress * Long Dress or Cocktail Dress. * Short Dress. **Morning** * Dress simply * If we attend a wedding that takes place during the morning, we will never wear a long dress, unless required by the invitation. * In the summer everything is allowed, including jeans. * It is not allowed, even if it is morning, to use t-shirts or sports shoes. **Afternoon** * The makeup will be bolder. * The jewelry or costume jewelry more ostentatious than those used in the morning. * The quality of the fabric is very important. It must always be of quality. * The heels will be, if you wish, a bit higher. * To attend a cocktail party (they usually take place at dusk and at the beginning of the night), we will go almost to a party, avoiding the long dress, although it is allowed for the skirt to reach the ankle. * A simple suit jacket, made of good fabric, is an appropriate garment for a cocktail party. * Short sleeves are allowed. * Never use sequins or feathers: they are only allowed in nighttime events. **Night** * Almost everything is allowed, always with good taste: long gloves, daring jewelry, feathers, sequins... * It is very appropriate (in events that allow it) the long dress. # EL PROTOCOLO EN LAS MESAS ## Normas generales * The tables must be presided over by the one who invites -HOST- or, in his case, by the person of highest category, according to the current decree, if it is a matter of official events. * The presidency must be unique and only double when two authorities of equal category attend, or in the cases of higher authority and another lower one who invites, who, not for her rank, but for being the host, is entitled, by right, to the honor of a presidency. The same criterion in the case of banquets with the attendance of an authority accompanied by a spouse. * Ladies have the same honors and treatment as Spouses. * Couples should not be placed together, but alternated with other guests of equal rank. * The seats located to the right of the presidency are the preferred or most honorable. * The distribution of guests will always be made from the presidency, following the criterion of placing the guests in order of precedence, alternating them: right left. ## Tipos de presidencias: * There are two types of presidencies: the French system of presidencies and the Anglo-Saxon system. * **In the French System**, the first presidency is located facing the entrance door and in the center of the rectangular table, the second presidency, opposite the first, is also placed in the center of the table. As an advantage, it favors the important conversation: by having the two presidencies located opposite each other, in close proximity, they allow a grouping of the guests of higher category. Relevant people are together and can talk among themselves, in conjunction with the hosts. This is the most used system in Spain for official and work meals. * On the contrary, it presents two disadvantages: it hinders the conversation at the ends and highlights the categories. * **In the Anglo-Saxon System**, the presidencies are placed at the ends of the table, taking into account that the first presidency must face the entrance of the guests, just like in the French system. As advantages, the conversation is more uniform and general: by having the presidency at the ends and around it the main guests, two poles of conversation are produced at the ends, and it disguises the categories: the guests of lower category are surrounded to their right and left by those of greater relevance. * The presidency under the Anglo-Saxon system has a serious drawback: by being the presidencies away the relevant guests are divided into two groups, hindering the necessary unity of the important conversation ## Tipos de mesas * **Single Rectangular Table** * It allows the two classic presidencies, located one in front of the other. It also allows a clear and easy ordering and placement of the guests. * **Single U-shaped Table** * It is a development of the previous one. It allows a larger number of guests. * **Multiple Tables** * This is a very useful formula for gala dinners and banquets with a large number of guests. This system consists of: a presidential table (presidency and guests of higher category) located on one side of the dining room, if it is rectangular, and in the center of the hall if it is circular, and a series of rectangular or circular tables for the rest of the guests. ## Técnicas de colocación de los comensales * To indicate to the guests which place is theirs, systems that orient the guests to their place at the table are used: panels, card-plans and place cards; systems that orient the guest to their place at the table. This process is completed with the use of the personal place card that indicates the exact place that the guest should occupy. ## Colocación de los invitados * The placement of the guests at the tables cannot be improvised and must be planned well in advance. There are several formulas to guide guests for their placement in the place that we have reserved for them. * First, all the places must have been marked with a card or the "Nominated Minute". These cards will be slightly larger than the usual visiting cards and will include the name with the correct address, and then the position of the guest. They will be placed on the napkin or at the foot of the glasses, but never touching the plates. * It will be useful to place at the entrance of the hall where the banquet is to take place, plans of the tables with the corresponding lists. It is advisable to place more than one plan in different places to avoid crowding around one only. * In some cases, it is customary to send each guest a small plan marking the place where they should sit. * All this greatly facilitates the order and the smooth running of the event. ## Colocación de banderas * Everything has an order in its placement. When there is a need to order a room or a dining room and flags from other nations are to be placed, these are usually placed in alphabetical order. In the case of being the flags of the Spanish Autonomous Communities, they will be placed in order of accordance with the date and number of Decree of creation of each of them. * As for the placement of the Flag of Spain, it must always preside over everything, remaining at a height superior to the others. * In the case of having to place the National Flag, the one of the Autonomous Community and the one of the City, the National one will be placed in the center, slightly higher, the autonomous one to her right and the local one to her left. The three will be placed together in the center of the room, or to the right of the presidency. * In the case of being two flags, the national one and the autonomous one, the latter will be on the left of the national one. <start_of_image>* When the flag of the municipality is to be placed, the presence of the autonomous flag and the flag of Spain will be mandatory. # ACTOS ESPECÍFICOS DE CARÁCTER MILITAR ## Generalidades * The Presidency is the place of honor of an event; it indicates who marks the beginning and the end of that event. Presidencies must be one-person and, if possible, odd. If it is an even number, the main place will be, of the two central positions, the one on the right and, the next in order of precedence, the one on the left. * The concession, which will be mandatory in favor of the one with the highest rank, or voluntary, giving way to the one who is going to be honored. When determining who or who will occupy the presidency of an act, we must bear in mind that, in the military field, the precedence of authorities and, therefore, their presence or not in a presidency, is not an exact science. We must analyze, among other aspects, the type of act, the place, the organic dependence of the military unit that is the object of the act, if applicable, and the presence or not of civilian authorities. Additionally, as always in Protocol, large doses of common sense must be used. Some essential considerations for this presidency may be the following: * The highest authority of the Defense present will occupy a seat on the presidency. * In social or military civic acts, a place will be reserved in the presidency for the highest civil authority present. We must also keep in mind whether it is a seated or standing presidency: in both cases, the type of act, which will give us an idea of how to place these presidencies: linear or alternating. Remember that the Royal Decree regulates the presidency by establishing the maximum by which "the acts will be chaired by the authority that organizes them". **Armed Forces:** it is important to clarify who is considered to organize an event?. It may be necessary to establish a different criterion, under the Royal Decree of Precedences: in events of a special nature, within the Armed Forces, the presidency of the event will be occupied by the main authority of the Defense present. The organizer will occupy a prominent position at the presidency. ## Presidencia de los actos y ceremonias * Generally, the presidency of acts and ceremonies will be exercised by the authority that organizes them or a superior authority of their organic chain, bearing in mind that higher precedence does not always imply the presidency. * The RIET and COMIL, authorities who hold the institutional representation of the Army, by delegation of the JEME, in a specific geographical area, except for express designation by another authority, will preside over the military acts that they organize or commission their organization within the scope of their powers assigned in the IG 01/09. * In any case, you can consult or propose the presidency of an event by another authority when its purpose, place, circumstances, or special relationship, so advise. However, the following may preside or may preside over military ceremonies: - Members of the Royal Family - The civilian authorities mentioned in Title IV of the Regulations on Military Honours. - The MINISDEF authorities when so determined expressly. - Other civilian authorities will normally preside over the ceremonies in which, although military units participate, festivities and anniversaries of their scope are commemorated. In this case, generally, the presidency will be shared between the civilian authority and the military authority corresponding to it in representation of the Army. The military authority that organizes the ceremony, or in his case, the highest authority in his organic chain, in the event that he does not hold the presidency, will usually occupy a position near the one who presides. The military personnel of higher rank than the one who organizes the event and who does not have to hold the presidency, will do so as a guest, even if they have a special relationship with the unit or relationship with the event. ## Precedencias en los actos They are subject to the State Protocol **Internal Rules:** - The position held - The military post - The seniority in the post - The date of entry into service - Age Keep in mind the military structure in its dual aspect - Military posts - Charges Order of precedence of the authorities of the Department: - Minister of Defense. - Chief of the Defense Staff - Secretary of State for Defense. - Secretary of State Director of the National Intelligence Centre. - Undersecretary of Defense. - Secretary General of Defense Policy. - Chief of the General Staff of the Army. - Chief of the General Staff of the Navy. - Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force. - Director General of the Civil Guard - Secretary-General of the National Intelligence Centre. Precedence among other authorities of the second level (in particular: directors general and lieutenant generals). Traditionally, precedence among these authorities had given priority to the second over the first. However, the new structures of the Armies and especially, the functional dependencies, make that order no longer align well with the principles that govern senior positions within the General Administration of the State and that do not promote proper institutional relations within the Ministry. ## Honores ### La Bandera de España **Article 4. Honors** 1. The Flag of Spain is entitled to the highest military honors of presented weapon and national anthem in full version. In that case, it also includes a 21-gun salute and the seven-voice shout of "Long Live Spain!". 2. In the acts in which it must intervene, it will be received and dismissed with the honors and ceremony established in this Regulation. ### Authorities of the Ministry of Defense **Honors to the Minister of Defense.** 1. The Minister of Defense is entitled to the military honors of presented weapon and national anthem in short version. In that case, he also includes a 19-gun salute and the five-voice shout of "Long Live Spain!". 2. He will be paid honors at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense on the occasion of his taking office, in the military acts that he chairs and when he officially visits units of the Armed Forces. **Honors to authorities of the Ministry of Defense.** * To the holders of the Secretariats of State, Undersecretariat and General Secretariats of the Ministry of Defense, they will be given the military honors of presented weapon and national anthem in short version, in the military acts that they preside over and the first time they officially visit units of the Armed Forces. ### Mandos militares **Honors to the Chief of Defense Staff and to the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force.** 1. The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force are entitled to the military honors of presented weapon and national anthem in short version. In that case, they also include a 17-gun salute and the four-voice shout of "Long Live Spain!". 2. They will be paid honors upon taking office, in the military acts that they preside over and the first time they officially visit units of the Armed Forces. **Honors to General Officers.** 1. General officers with command or who hold positions of direction or leadership are entitled to honors with the following gradation: a) Army generals, admirals general or air generals, presented weapon and national anthem in short version. In that case, they also include a 17-gun salute and the four-voice shout of "Long Live Spain!". b) Lieutenant generals and admirals, presented weapon and march of infantry. In their case, they also include a 15-gun salute and three voices of "Long Live Spain!". c) Division generals and vice admirals, weapon on the shoulder and march of infantry. In their case, they also include a 13-gun salute and two voices of "Long Live Spain!". d) Brigade generals and rear admirals, unslung weapon and march of infantry. In their case, they also include an 11-gun salute and one voice of "Long Live Spain!". 2. They will be paid honors upon taking office, in the military acts that they preside over and the first time they officially visit units under their command. # COLOCACIÓN DE BANDERAS ## Uso nacional. * When we have to place the flags for a meeting or a gathering, they must have a determined order. In the case that only one central position exists (behind a presidential table, on a stage, etc.), they will be placed as explained below. * The national flag must always occupy the place of highest honor, that is, the one of highest precedence. And as in the case of precedence, they are placed from highest to lowest importance. * In the case that the number of flags is odd, the Spanish flag is placed in the center, and then the rest (starting from the right) alternating the positions right and left of the rest of the flags. **Placement of the odd number of flags**  * No matter how many flags there are, as long as their number is odd. **Placement of the odd number of flags**  * In the attached graphs you can see their placement, being 1 the one with the highest precedence and 5 the one with the lowest.