Red fever grips Spain
Flag fervour is spreading across Spain as the country drapes itself in yellow and red for Sunday's final against the Netherlands in the World Cup in South Africa. At Spain's only flag manufacturer, Sosa Dias, sales have soared from 10,000 a quarter to more than 50,000 in the last month as fans snap them up to hang from their apartment balconies or drape over their shoulders while they watch games at giant outdoor screens.
The patriotic vibe is notable in Spain, where the so-called autonomous regions such as Catalunya and the Basque region are often in conflict with the governing powers in Madrid and flying the Spanish flag is taboo in some neighbourhoods.
The flags, the largest of which cost 50 euros (63 dollars) each, decorate most bars and shop windows in Madrid, in a display of pride over Spain's unprecedented success. The team had never before reached the final in a World Cup.
Other entrepreneurs were cashing in with hastily produced red T-shirts with the image of a yellow octopus in the centre, in homage to Paul the "psychic" octopus in Germany, who predicted Spain's victory over Germany on Wednesday and has now forecast a Spain triumph on Sunday.
Flower sellers have made special bouquets using the colours of the flag and restaurant menus have been reprinted on a red and yellow card.
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