Christmas traditions in spain

Christmas traditions in

Spain

Christmas in Spain is one of our favorite times besides of a truly magical affair. Although it doesn't get going until seemingly the last minute, spaniards try to enjoy this dates with their family and friends. Unlike many other

places in Europe, Christmas lights do not usually go up in Spain until late November. Every town and city will

decorate the streets with millions of lights, christmas trees and navity scenes, in spanish called Belén. Apart of the streets, we decorate our homes with a christmas tree, a

nativity scene, a garland on the door, lights over the windows and santa claus or the tree kings hanged on

them, etcetera.The true mark of the beginning of Christmas in Spain is the Spanish national lottery draw

held on December 22nd.The highest prize of this draw is called "El gordo" (the fat one). Christmas oficially finish at

6th January with The Kings day. During these days of celebration we use to decorate tables for the meals with our family or friends. There are many different ways for doing it but, it's usual to cover the table with a beautiful tablecloth, recover our best silverare from the cupboar, and we can't omit Christmas decoration onto the table.

Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) • It's the most important family gathering of the

year.• It's usual to dinner stuffed turkey, but we also eat

other kinds of meat and seafood and shellfish.• After dinner, the desser par excellence is "turrón".• At 12 is celebrated the Rooster Mass (Misa de

Gallo).• Santa Claus, known in Spain as Papá Noel, brings

gifts for children to open on Christmas Eve.

Christmas

Day(Navidad)• Like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day in Spain is traditionally a family day.

• The celebration of this day is

the same than Christmas Eve.• Some children open the gifts

received by Santa Claus in the morning.

• Talking about food, we use to eat different kinds of meat orfish, seafood, pate, salads, etc.

• After luch, for dessert of oursewe eat turron as well as sugared almonds,crumblyshortbreads, chocolates etc.

Day of the Saints Innocents, 28th (Día de los

Santos Inocentes) • This day has a religious origin.• Nowadays, In Spain, this day is a

day in which people make jokes or pranks to others.

• Is a tradition to put on the back of the person who has been tricked a white puppet of papper to symbolice the prank. Whe the person realize that he/she is holding a puppet , who has made the prank use to sing 'Inocente Inocente'as a victorious of his/her joke.

• Saints Innocents Day is similar to April Fool's Day in other cultures.

NewYear’s

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• New Year's Eve, known as "Nochevieja" is usually a family affair which takes place at home.

• The dinner is simmilar to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but, it deffers in the dessert. Although we eat christmas sweets it is tradition to eat at midnight lucky grapes.We listen to the clock from Puerta del Sol in Madrid, usually via the television, and when the clock begins to give the chimes we start eating the grapes one by one acorcding to the clock chimes. When it finish a New Year is officially started so we drink a toast our glasses of champagne and we wish a happy new year to our family and friends. It's also common to set off fireworks and going party with your friends.

• At restarants and bars are there partyes called "Cotillón" to celebrate this day.

• Is also a tradition to wear a red cloth during this night for have good luck in the New Year.

New Year Day (Año Nuevo)

• A familiar meal takes place again to celebrate

with happiness the arrival of a New Year

full of new things.

Three Kings Eve and Three Kings Day

(Noche y Día de Reyes)• On 5th January 'La cabalgata de Reyes' is held in each city and town in Spain.• This day is where the three Kings arrive full of gifts for the spanish children.• It's a tradition to leave some food for them and their camels besides of your shoes so they

can leave your presents there. If you don't leave them you won't receive any present.

• On 6th January morning children open their gifts.

• Then, a familiar lunch is celebrated. In this lunch, is typical to eat a King's cake (roscón de reyes) which contains a bean and a small figure inside. If you get the bean you will pay the king's cake next year but, if you get the figure, you'll be the king of the lunch.

BOUQUET OF LEON

In Leon appeared the “RamoLeonés de Navidad”, is a habit of Christian religion. The bouquet consist in a triangular or circular support. In the bouquet put bows, thread of wool, fruits, donuts this bouquet was offering to the Virgin Mary for the Rooster mass “Misa del gallo” in Christmas eve.

¡Feliz Navidad!

Y próspero año nuevo