Santa Fe, Spain – A cultural tradition known as “tomando el fresco,” which involves older residents sitting outdoors to enjoy cool evening air, has ignited debate in Santa Fe following local police’s tweets about the practice. The ritual, cherished in many Spanish towns and villages, has been described as an essential part of community life, particularly for older individuals. The psychology of recent promotion for the activity has made it easy for critics to charge media outlets with irresponsible sensationalism in their coverage.
Taking the cool Here, llegando a casa tomé el fresco describes the convivial practice of hanging out outside with friends and neighbors as the heat of the day passes. It’s a tradition that many hold dear, offering a space for social gathering and peaceful contemplation. Mayor Juan Cobo of Santa Fe expressed his commitment to ensuring that residents can continue this tradition without fear of repercussions.
In an interview that aired on Cope Radio Tuesday, Cobo made his case for seniors. He continued, “Nobody is going to tell our seniors that they can no longer leave their houses and enjoy the fresh air.” He emphasized that the essence of taking the fresco is about enjoying leisure while maintaining respect for others in the community.
The controversy arose after local police tweeted on May 27, 2025, about regulations intended to protect residents who need quiet during early morning hours. These regulations address the complaints of hassle noise tensions. They go after the people who are out there making noise through barbecuing or blasting music on a Saturday night, enjoying the evening air.
Cobo condemned what he called “populist and sensationalistic” press coverage that helped set the tone for this debate. He contended that the articles have unfairly portrayed the purpose behind the regulations. We’ve all been played hook line and sinker. It appears certain TV and newspaper reporters would much rather cover the story of folks being prevented from breathing fresh air on their own doorsteps in Santa Fe than a $5 trillion national budget.
Given acknowledgement of this reality, Cobo calmed residents with their new promise. As long as they aren’t disrupting others, they should be able to put their outdoor rituals. They just want to make sure you don’t forget to take a break in that cool air. Just be respectful and don’t ruin nature for everyone else.
The mayor noted that four years ago, the now retired mayor of Algar was the one who proposed inscribing the fresco on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. This recent move underscores this fresco’s significance to Spanish culture.
While the mayor promised that wasn’t going to happen, residents were having none of it after two years of back and forth. Many online commentators found the comments made to defend this tradition infuriating. One user on X expressed their sentiments bluntly: “You’re sons of bitches!”
The idea of stealing the fresco is still a very live one for many in Santa Fe. José Carlos Sánchez, one of the residents of this local neighborhood known as Santurce, brought home just how impactful these meetings can be. “My mother’s 82 and she sits on her street every day,” he quipped. He continued, “Some days, I get off of work, run down, sit down and get up to speed with what’s going on. It’s the nicest moment of the day.”
As discussions surrounding taking the fresco continue, city officials remain focused on balancing community enjoyment with considerations for those needing rest during late hours. Cobo, for his part, wanted to make clear that there is no explicit ban on removing the Santa Fe fresco.
“So that’s not right,” he said with respect to reports of a ban. We’re waking up people to the need to put an end to this rude, inconsiderate practice of keeping law-abiding citizens awake. It’s illegal for them to do so, and they should be held accountable.