Raised white palms, signifying hands untainted with blood, or blue ribbons, as a symbol of solidarity with ETA's victims, are sights most Spaniards hoped had disappeared for ever.
But over the past two days they made an unwelcome reappearance as tens of thousands have taken to the streets across the country to try to persuade the Basque separatist movement, ETA, to reinstate the ceasefire it abandoned yesterday after 14 months of peace.
Supporting the Basque government's call for a public rejection of ETA's decision, thousands of demonstrators poured out of banks, shops, factories and apartments in towns and villages throughout Spain.
Hundreds joined politicians and civil servants at noon in a silent five-minute street protest in Vitoria outside the official residence of the Lehendakari, the Basque president. Many of them carried banners calling for peace; the overwhelming mood was one of sadness as illusions built up over more than a year of peace were shattered.
For the first time Herri Batasuna, ETA's political front, joined in the demonstrations, although its protests were more muted and many of the demonstrators carried posters with the names and photographs of Basque prisoners in Spanish jails.
Many believe that if prisoners had been repatriated, the ceasefire might have held. HB also accuses the government of lacking goodwill in the peace process, and of continually pressuring suspected ETA militants in France and Spain - 49 were detained over the 14 months of peace. HB's leader, Mr Arnaldo Otegi, said Madrid would be responsible if violence erupted again. But, he said: "A terrorist attack would be a disappointment for everyone, including ETA itself."
The Spanish royal family has always refrained from making political statements, but in a unique gesture, Spain's crown prince took his place behind a banner calling for peace. Prince Felipe surprised anti-ETA demonstrators when he appeared alongside them outside the EU building in Brussels. The prince was joined by Spanish, British and German ministers.
In a last-minute attempt to persuade ETA to reconsider its decision, nationalist groups which signed the 1998 Lizarra Pact that led to the ceasefire announcement, met in an emergency session on Thursday. The Basque Nationalist Party president, Mr Xabier Arzallus, stopped short of outright condemnation of ETA, but called on HB to work towards "a new framework of sovereignty in the Basque country".