1. is not usual for the streets to be decorated with bright
lights till the first week of December, and people will
decorate their homes for the second half of the
month. This will involve a Christmas tree, although
often small, and also a belén, a small nativity scene,
which will always include Mary, Joseph and Jesus, as
well as the three kings.
The first of these is December 8, which is the public
holiday,Immaculada (Feast of the Immaculate
Conception), which marks the start of the Spanish
Christmas celebrations.
2. Another big day in the pre-Christmas build up is the
draw for the lottery,El Gordo, or The Fat One. Pretty
much every Spaniard buys a ticket, and if a winner
comes up from a particular town, it is very likely that
there will be many winners from the same place. The
draw takes place on December 22, and whole families
gather around the television to see if they have won.
3. Then of course, comes Christmas Eve and Day, and
this is where things get a little different. Christmas
Eve is called Nochebuena in Spanish, and is a time
for gathering as a family for a large and often long,
meal. At this time of year it is traditional to eat a sweet
called turrón, a nougat made of toasted sweet
almonds. Although Santa does pay a visit to Spanish
children, generally he will only leave one gift; the main
presents are brought by the three kings in January.
On Christmas Day, the time will be spent quietly,
maybe going for a nice walk, and having another long
leisurely lunch.
December 31 is New Year’s Eve, NocheVieja, and is
a big night of celebration in Spain. Most people will
have a meal with the family in the evening, and stay
at home until midnight, when the tradition is to eat 12
grapes, one on each of the ringing bells of midnight.
After this, people flood out onto the streets and into
the bars for yet another night of drinking and eating.
4. January 5 is the day all Spanish children are waiting
for, the night when the three kings visit and bring
them their presents. You will see decorations outside
people’s houses, with ladders and effigies of the three
kings climbing through the windows. This is also the
night of theCabalgata parade, and
the reyesmagos arrive on a float, and throw sweets
to the crowds of children. Before going to bed, the
children clean a pair of shoes, in which their gifts can
be left, and leave a snack for the camels and a
nightcap for the Kings.
5. On January 6 the children wake to find the presents
left to them, and thereafter Kings Day is pretty much
equivalent to our Christmas Day.
