Christmas Celebrations in Spain
It´s not a myth that Spain likes to party. The weather makes it easy, even in winter clear blue skies are common although the temperature fluctuates greatly from coastal areas to inland mountainous zones and during the day from cold mornings to sunny afternoon and chilly evenings.
Christmas time or Navidad is quite a long affair here. In fact December starts with two Bank Holidays, December 6th is Constitution Day or Día de la Constitución which has been a holiday since 1978 and December 8th is the Immaculate Conception or La Inmaculada Concepción, an important day in the Catholic Church. So December begins with fiestas just weeks before the biggest celebrations of the
year.
The first night of the Christmas illuminations, especially in Malaga, Granada and Madrid are quite a spectacle and it´s not unknown for my neighbours to drive 2 hours each way to gasp at the spectacle.
Important Christmas Dates in Spain
An important day for many Spanish, there is a huge love of lotteries here, is December 22nd when the Christmas Lottery ´El Gordo´ meaning the fat one takes place. People are glued to the radio and television to see if their numbers have come up on this Spain´s biggest and oldest lottery. Because the lottery tickets are expensive, groups often get together to play together, so winning tickets can mean the change in fortunes for winning families or even an entire village. A good start to the celebrations indeed.
December 24th, Christmas Eve or Nochebuena meaning good night or good eve is the main Spanish fiesta. The time when families get together and dine together in the evening, giving presents then too. Be warned, nearly all bars and restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve to celebrate with their own family.
If you usually go to Midnight Mass, in Spain you´ll go to Mass of the Rooster or misa del gallo which is said to be named after the rooster that crowed the night Jesus was born.
For us Brits, who celebrate Christmas Day, you can´t eat a roast lunch in the evening, it is perfect. Our sons go and celebrate with their Spanish girlfriend´s family (until the early hours) on Christmas Eve then come to us to feast again on Christmas Day, Dia de Navidad. No visiting one family one year and the in-laws the next, they get to do both celebraions – every year.
December 25th, Christmas Day is more of a recovery day after the celebrations or day off, or to pick their olives in the area I live. When you own your own olive trees and have a job then every weekend or day off it´s essential to bring in your harvest before the factories close down.
New Year´s Eve in Spain
December 31 st New Year´s Eve or Nochevieja, old night, is also a family occasion. Dining together and then popping one grape into your mouth for each chime of midnight – is no mean feat, but if you want luck for the following year it has to be done.
If you don´t manage all 12 grapes you´ll still have good luck for the same number of months as the
number of grapes you ate. Fresh ones are always more difficult and you have to get rid of the pips, so the huge tip is buy skinned, seedless grapes in syrup, it´s certainly easier and you can buy them in ringpull tins of 12 so you don´t even have to count – just empty the tin.
Another way to ensure you´ve stocked up on good luck for the following year is to wear red underwear on New Year´s Eve. It should be new and preferably received as a present.
Most bars will close before midnight (and supermarkets at 3pm) so people can get together in their homes to eat and give presents, but worry not, many bars then open again and the festivities carry on until the early hours, often ending with Churros and Chocolate for breakfast before going home to catch a few hours sleep.
January 1 st New Year´s Day or Año Nuevo, new year is another day off after the celebrations which go on long after the midnight chimes.
January 5th Three Kings´ Processions, Los Reyes Magicos is just like Christmas Eve, this is the night the Kings bring presents. Almost every town and village has a procession when the vividly dressed Kings, often on floats, ´arrive´ in the town and throw out sweets to the crowds. Everyone tries to catch them, if they ´catch´ you it can hurt.
January 6th Three Kings or Dia de los Reyes is when children were traditionally given presents, these days many receive presents on both Christmas Day and on Three Kings Day. It makes more sense to have presents on Christmas Day as usually, if it´s not a weekend, school begins again on January 7th.
Traditional Spanish Christmas Cakes
In October the popular turrones begin to appear in shops. Hard and soft nougat and marzipan in all
shapes, sizes and flavours make their appearance, as well as polvorones and mantecados, very rich, soft biscuity-cakes. These are often in shops and bars on the counter along with several bottles of spirits to help yourself to while you enjoy Christmas shopping.
The traditional cake is Roscon de Reyes, a round sweet, ring-shaped cake made from choux-like dough which is iced and sprinkled with sugar and dried fruit, especially candied fruit so it looks like jewels on a King´s Crown. Roscon de Reyes roughly translates as cake of kings.
In it a plastic king or queen is hidden and traditionally the person who finds it is the monarch for the day and to be waited on hand and foot. There is also a bean inside the cake and the not so fortunate finder of
the bean is the purchaser of the Roscon for the following year.
Seasons Greetings, Happy Christmas, Feliz Navidad y Happy New Year – Feliz Año Nuevo.