Spanish village called 'Kill the Jews' mulls rebranding exercise

[FarCenter]

Residents in the Spanish village of Castrillo* Matajudíos (Castrillo Kill the Jews) will vote on Saturday on whether it's time to change the name of their small hamlet in the province of Burgos to something a little less offensive.

According to the Diario de Burgos, mayor Lorenzo Rodríguez has called a meeting of the 60 inhabitants to put the case for adopting the village's original moniker - Castrillo Mota de Judíos (Castrillo Hill of the Jews) - after which locals will decide one way or the other.

Archaeologist Ángel Palomino explained that the place was dubbed Castrillo Mota de Judíos in 1035, after Jews from neighbouring Castrojeriz took refuge there to escape a pogrom.

The Jewish quarter of Mota de Judíos thrived until the Jews were expelled from Spain in the 14th century, after which Palomino believes that the remaining population declared its "Kill the Jews" sentiment – supposedly as a commitment to the Christian faith.

An alternative explanation is that Mota de Judíos simply evolved naturally into Matajudíos over time, showing a traditional disdain in Castilla y León for proper enunciation and sensitivity.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/04/18/kill_the_jews_spanish_village_name_change/

[NightWatcher]

1. they've thought of changing it to "we'd like your travel dollars"