1. Christmas in Spain : by Marta Crespo Sanchez
In Spain, Christmas is an important time which has a distinct religious connotation.
We start to celebrate Christmas decorating our homes. We use to decorate them
around December 6th, and the Christmas decoration most characteristic here, is the
nativity scene. The streets are decorated too, but probably the best decoration and
above all nativities scenes are in church.
The first day in Christmas time is Christmas Eve, this day is very familiar and we use to
have dinner with all our families. That night at 12 o´ clock it´s the "misa del gallo" to
celebrate Jesus´ birth. The next day it´s Christmas and we spend all the day with the
family. Personally my family and I go to mass, but not everybody does it.
Then, we celebrate New Year´s Eve. This day, here, isn´t so familiar, but is very funny.
At 12 o´clock, to say hello to de new year, we eat twelve grapes, one with each chime
of the clock. After that we go out to celebrate it, and maybe this is the biggest party day
in Spain.

2. Finally, to see off at the Christmas time, we celebrate The Epiphany´s Eve on January
5th and Epiphany´s Day on January 6th. In Epiphany´s Eve, Three Wise Men called
Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, take presents to all the children. Here this is a special
night for all the kids because if they have been good, they will have their present, but if
they have been bad, The Three Wise Men will take them coal.