A proclamation made it possible to announce something new.
Determining the etymological origin of the term proclamation , which we are now going to proceed to analyze, leads us to have to go to Latin. And it is derived from the word "praeco", which can be translated as "crier", and is made up of two parts: the prefix "prae-", which means "before", and the verb "vocare", which is synonymous with “calling out loud.”
Pregón is a word that refers to a proclamation that is pronounced publicly so that as many people as possible become aware of the information disseminated. Proclamations were very important in ancient times, when mass media did not exist.
Rise and decline of the proclamation
Through a proclamation, it was possible to announce a commercial offer or any other news . This type of notification made out loud was also used to start an event . Over time, the proclamations began to include musical accompaniment .
The disappearance of proclamations had to do, as we already said, with the appearance of various media such as television or radio . These devices make the dissemination of news much easier, so the message can reach people who are located at great geographical distances. To learn about a proclamation, however, you had to be close to the crier (who pronounced it).
Another issue linked to the decline of the proclamation was the growth of cities and the number of inhabitants. Having a proclamation delivered in a public square no longer guarantees that the majority of people will find out about the news, as was the case a century ago.
The proclamation can be linked to a proclamation.
The concept in current Spanish
Currently in countries like Spain this type of proclamation is maintained. Specifically, it is common that when festivities are going to take place in a city or town, an illustrious person is invited to give a speech. With this “speech” not only will the organized program of activities be inaugurated but it will also proceed to praise this event and encourage neighbors and visitors to enjoy these days of holiday.
The usual thing is that the proclamation is given by a resident or native of the city who has stood out in a specific professional sector, be it sports, culture or politics. However, it is also common for it to be carried out by a famous person who, for one reason or another, maintains a special relationship with that population.
Publications that bear the name of Pregón
Currently, rescuing the spirit and essence of the old proclamations, several newspapers from different parts of the world are known as Pregón . This is the case of publications such as Pregón de Apurimac ( Peru ) or Pregón de San Salvador de Jujuy ( Argentina ), among others.
In the case of Spain, there is another media outlet that also uses the term in question in its title. This is the newspaper “El Pregonero Digital de Sepúlveda” which, as its name indicates, addresses current events in the town of Sepúlveda, located in the province of Segovia.