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Christmas traditions in
Spain
It is the middle of November, and
while walking through the streets of any Spanish town, chances
are the scene will be quite the same as it is most everyday. Shop windows will
display the typical merchandise, and people will come and go
following their regular daily routine, just as they always do.
But very soon, changes will begin to happen. The streets
will be beautifully lit, store windows will display all kinds of
holiday merchandise and curious and interesting gifts, and
friends and family will gather in city centers dressed in thick
winter coats, hats and scarves, to combat the chilly December
nights. In Spain, there will be an extra dose of good
spirit felt in the streets, and all of this can only mean one
thing, that Christmas is just around the corner. 
Spain’s
traditions during the Christmas season revolve around many of
the same activities as in the rest of the world. Just like
anywhere else, families in Spain gather together to enjoy and
celebrate. Whatever the case
the goal is to enjoy a few moments and share in the
spirit of giving, kindness, and goodwill. The elements of
this exchange are very similar among all cultures: food, drink,
song, dance, the exchanging of gifts, and other acts of
generosity. But in Spain,
Christmas is also a very unique holiday, with beautiful
traditions and customs that reflect the true character
of the Spanish people.
One symbol of Christ mas that still maintains much importance
throughout Spain is the Nativity scene. These scenes
occupy plazas in
 cities
and small towns throughout the country, and can also be seen in
the doorways and entrances of many Spanish homes,
as well in storefront windows, and they can
be quite elaborate. In many small towns, during the nights
just before Christmas, plazas might even have a live Nativity
scene, with actors and actresses playing the parts of Mary and
Joseph and the three wise men as well as live animals that are often associated with
the birth of Christ, like lambs, sheep, and donkeys.
Also during
the days leading up to Christmas, one might hear the voices of
children singing in the streets, especially in the villages and
small towns of rural Spain, where they still participate in the
age old tradition called the
"aguinaldo". Even though not as popular in recent times,
in years past one could hear children singing
Christmas carols
in their neighborhoods, outside the homes of their neighbors or
next to a Nativity scene. In exchange the neighbors
typically give the children a piece of candy or a few coins.
December
22, Christmas Lottery Winners are Announced
On December
22, two important events take place. Students are released
from school for their winter vacations, and perhaps more
importantly, they
announce the winning number of the famous Christmas Lottery in
Spain. This lottery, by far the biggest in Spain, is a
tradition practiced by many people who long to win the grand
prize, which would make them instantly rich. This tradition is
deeply embedded in these holidays, dating back to 1763, when
Carlos III initiated it. Since then, not one year has passed
without it, and it now is the symbolic moment in which Spaniards
begin to celebrate the Christmas holidays.
December
24, Christmas Eve
Christmas
Eve in Spain, called “Nochebuena”, just like in many parts of
the world, is celebrated with two very important traditions,
eating an enormous and decadent meal, and going to Christmas
mass. There is a wide variety of typical foods one might find
on plates across Spain on this night. Each region has its own
distinct specialties. Among typical dishes served on Christmas
Eve and during the days that follow are roast lamb and suckling
pig (typically served in the regions of Castilla León, Castilla
la Mancha, and Madrid), foul like turkey or duck (commonly
prepared in Andalucía), and an enormous variety of seafood,
including shrimp, lobster, crab, and various types of fish like
hake, trout, sea bream, sea bass, and salmon (common in many
regions, but mostly on the costs). For dessert, there is quite
a spread of delicacies, among them are turrón and marzapan,
desserts made of honey, egg and almonds that are Arabic in
origin, as well as polvorones, a sweet bread kind of like
elephant ears, and a variety of nuts and dried fruits. To drink,
one must have a glass of cava, the Spanish equivalent of
champagne, although the Spanish say that cava is much better.
After the meal, many Spaniards get their second wind and go to
midnight mass, known as “La misa del Gallo”, or “Rooster Mass”,
named such because the Rooster is known as the first to
announce the birth of Christ.
December
25, Christmas Day
Christmas
day is more or less a continuation of what began the day before.
People spend time with their families, they eat another large
meal, although not as big as the one the day before, and in many
families, children enjoy the gifts that they have received from
“Papa Noel”, the Spanish equivalent of Santa Claus. The custom
of giving gifts on this date is not as popular as it is in many
countries, as Spaniards traditionally wait until Three King’s Day
to exchange gifts.
December
28, Day of the Innocents
December 28
marks a day of celebration exclusively Spanish called the Day of
the Innocents. Although the roots of this day are bloody, in
modern times, the customs practiced on this day are very jovial
and fun. The anniversary of the murder of many
children committed by Herod in Judea, ironically many laughs are
had on this day, especially by the natives. Many
foreigners who are in Spain become very confused as absurd or
incredible news appears in the
papers, municipal governments stage baffling practical jokes on
their citizens, and friends and acquaintances cannot be trusted
for their word.
December 31, New Year's Eve
Of course, the celebrations that
take place on New Year’s Eve, or Nochevieja, in Spain, are quite
an impressive spectacle. In all plazas of Spanish cities big
and small, one can see a similar scene, and it will undoubtedly
include church bells and grapes. When the
clock strikes 12, the church bells sound 12 times, and at this
moment, all Spaniards eat 12 grapes, one for each toll of the
bell. According to tradition, those who eat the grapes will
have 12 months of prosperity in the new year. Families and
friends stay together for this celebration which marks the end
of one year and the beginning of a new one, and in the case of
most Spaniards this means a lively celebration will be had until
the wee hours of the morning.
January 6, Three King's Day
While most of the world has
already begun packing up the Christmas ornaments, throwing
out the tree, and finding a place for all of their gifts,
Spaniards are continuing the celebration. January 6, Three King’s Day, is the
long awaited day in which the three Kings bring their gifts. On
January 5, children go to a parade where they see the three kings
arrive to their city, and
take the opportunity to ask
them for gifts. Later, before going to bed, children leave
their shoes out in a visible spot in the house or on their
balcony, y go to bed hoping that when they wake up they
will find gifts left by Mechior, Gaspar, and
Balthasar. For breakfast or after lunch, families often have the
typical dessert of the day, the “Roscón de los Reyes”, a large
ring shaped cake that is decorated with candied fruits, symbolic
of the emeralds and rubies that adorned the robes of the three
kings. Somewhere inside the cake there is a surprise, and the
person to find it will be crowned King or Queen of the house for
the remainder of the day.
C hristmas recipes that come
straight from the kitchens of Escuela Internacional staff:
Salted sea bass (halibut or
grouper)
Almond Cheese from Extramadura
Rosca de reyes
Christmas Salad
Escuela Internacional Central
Registration Office
C/ Talamanca, 10, 28807 Alcala de Henares (Madrid), Spain
Telephone: +34 91 883 12 64, Fax: +34 91 883 13 01
e-mail: info@escuelai.com
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