Christmas On Spain?

Christmas On Spain
Christmas in Spain – Each year between December 24 and January 6, Spain comes alive to celebrate Christmas, or Navidad in Spanish. During this time of the year, everyone strives to fill their days with happiness, joy, and family harmony, although some are more successful than others.

Spanish holidays are a mixture of Christian and pagan traditions;
According to Catholic tradition, Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in honor of the day Jesus was born;
December 31 is New Year’s Eve, or Nochevieja in Spanish, the time to say goodbye to the year that’s coming to an end and welcome the new year;

But the holiday season doesn’t end there! January 6 is a very important holiday in Spain called el Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (known in English as Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day).

What are 3 Christmas traditions in Spain?

Is Christmas a big deal in Spain?

Christmas in Spain is a huge celebration, as seen here on the streets of Malaga | © Alfredo Garcia Saz / Alamy Stock Photo Christmas is a big deal here in Spain , where it’s seen first and foremost as a time for family gatherings and old friends. Aside from the major religious celebrations, there are a number of regional festivities and traditions to look forward to as well. If you don’t want to miss out on anything over the holiday season, read our guide to celebrating Christmas in Spain like a true local.

The Christmas season properly kicks off on December 8 in Spain , with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception;
This day is a religious celebration, and many Catholics here attend church to mark the occasion;

While there’s not much going on in terms of public celebrations on that day, it does very much signify the beginning of the festive season. From then onwards, nativity scenes, Christmas lights, and all other kinds of holiday traditions commence in the build up to December 24th.

Although not directly associated with Christmas, you may want to consider buying a ticket for the Christmas lottery , nicknamed El Gordo (the Fat One) in reference to the big prize. About three out of every four Spaniards enter the lottery, which is believed to be the largest in the world.

The winners are drawn on December 22nd every year, and the total prize money available is upwards of €2 billion each year. People queuing for their lottery ticket | © Barcex There are Christmas markets organized in all big towns and cities in Spain, and they tend to have remained quite traditional. Most markets sell a mixture of decorations, gifts, and usually Christmas trees too. Building your own nativity scene at home is also a popular Christmas tradition, and markets usually sell everything you need from miniature figurines to moss and straw for the manger.

Food plays an important part in Spanish culture any time of the year, but around Christmas, there are certain dishes and ingredients which are even more important. While nut season may be coming to an end, you’ll find that the stores fill up with the nut-based treat known as turrón.

Made with honey and eggs, this seasonal treat is everywhere at Christmas, and any excuse for a little bit of turrón here and there is a good one. Another favorite Christmas time treat is the polvorones and mantecados , a type of shortbread made using pork fat instead of butter and sold in a variety of different flavors: cinnamon, nut, citrus, etc. A selection of Christmas treats | © Jorge Díaz Of course, the iconic Spanish cured ham jamón Iberico features heavily on the Christmas menu too, but now is the time to splash out on the more expensive kinds. Look for the mention of bellota, which means the ham was fed on acorns, giving it a distinctive nutty flavor, making it all the more mouthwatering. This is the time of the year when seafood is also particularly appreciated, and there will be plenty to choose from at the market.

Upgrade your regular prawns for Palamós prawns (from the port of Palamós in Catalonia) for extra approval, and try something a little different like the tiny tallarines or even razor clams;
While Christmas Day is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, it is not the day for presents and gifts (unlike in the UK or North America );

Instead, the 24th and 25th are days for feasting with family and close friends and also partaking in mass and religious celebrations. Many shops and businesses close early on the 24th, so be sure to give your season’s greetings before lunchtime. The 24th is also a great time to wander through the local market to witness the Christmas cheer in full swing. A traditional nativity scene | © secrettenerife. co. uk For children, though, the most exciting part of Christmas is undoubtedly January 6th, known as the Epiphany , or Day of The Three Kings. This is a religious celebration of the arrival of the three Wise Men to visit baby Jesus, and it is customary for gifts to be given to children on that day in homage to the gifts brought by the Kings.

In certain parts of Spain, December 26th is also a bank holiday known as Saint Stephen’s Day. In Catalonia , it is traditional for the family to gather once again on this day and eat cannelloni pasta stuffed with the leftover meats from the previous days’ celebrations.

In most towns and cities across Spain, a large parade is organized welcoming the arrival of the Kings, and children gather to greet them as they throw sweets and treats to those present. It’s also customary during this time to eat a special pastry known as Roscón de Reyes , a circular pastry filled with cream and covered with colorful candied fruit.

How do they celebrate Xmas in Spain?

Christmas in Spanish – Although Christmas Eve isn’t until December 24, Christmas always comes to Spain a few days early, on December 22. That’s the day the winning numbers of the hugely popular Spanish Christmas Lottery are drawn and announced in song by schoolchildren on live TV.

In the months leading up to this event, many Spaniards buy lottery tickets and wait to see if their number will be lucky that year. Once the lottery prizes have been announced, the holidays have officially started, and everyone starts making final preparations for the big celebrations.

Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena in Spanish, is celebrated on December 24 and is generally a family affair. Usually, members of the extended family gather around a feast of meat, wine, typical foods not eaten at other times of the year, and all kinds of desserts.

For devout Catholics, there’s an important event after dinner: it’s time to go to a special midnight mass called the Misa del Gallo. Church-goers celebrate the birth of the Son of God by singing famous and traditional Christmas carols accompanied by guitars, hand drums, and tambourines.

In many homes, especially ones with children, Nochebuena is a very exciting night: it’s when Santa Claus (in Spanish, Papá Noel) brings gifts to all the children who have been good during the year. Some regions of Spain have their own traditions: in the Basque Country, it’s Olentzero who leaves the gifts, while children from Cataluña and Aragón receive gifts from Tió de Nadal.

At this point, Christmas has only just begun! December 25 is Christmas Day. Even after the enormous Christmas Eve dinner, on Christmas Day the family comes together to eat again, but not as much as the night before.

Especially in families with young children, this day is a time to show find out what Papá Noel brought everyone. The streets fill with children trying out their new roller skates, bikes, and remote control cars. Even after December 25, there are still plenty of Spanish Christmas traditions to uphold before the end of the year.

On December 28, Spain celebrates el Día de los Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents’ Day). This is another Catholic tradition that has evolved over time and been adapted to the modern world. Today, it is celebrated as a kind of Spanish April Fool’s Day when people play pranks ( bromas o inocentadas ) on each other.

On this day, don’t believe everything you see or hear — chances are good that somebody’s pulling your leg. We’ve finally made it to December 31, the last day of the year. While Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) is celebrated as a family, Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) is celebrated with friends.

After dinner and time for socializing, Spaniards spend the final moments before the clock strikes midnight preparing to ring in the new year;
People gather in plazas or homes to eat the 12 uvas de la suerte ( 12 lucky grapes );

During the last 12 seconds of the year, everyone eats 12 grapes so that luck will be on their side for the whole year to come. After midnight, the new year begins and people go out to celebrate it in style. For many, January 1 is a day to sleep in and recover from the night before.

But Christmas still isn’t over! January 5 is a very exciting day for the youngest members of a Spanish family. All afternoon, each city organizes a special event in which large floats parade through the streets carrying musicians, artists, people in costume, and, most importantly, the Tres Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) , who wave to all the children of the city.

After the parade, families return home for an early dinner so the children can clean their shoes and leave them in the living room. This way, when the Tres Reyes Magos visit the home in the wee hours of the morning, they’ll know where to leave the presents for each member of the family.

When they wake up on the morning of January 6, children across Spain jump out of their beds and run to the place they left their shoes the night before to see what gifts the Three Kings of Orient have left for them;

The only bad thing about the afternoon of January 6 is that children know that their vacation is ending and school is about to begin again, and adults are reminded that they’ll have to get back to the daily grind. Little by little, everything goes back to normal… until the next Christmas season.

What foods do Spain eat on Christmas?

What do Spanish do on Xmas day?

Most people in Spain go to Midnight Mass or ‘La Misa Del Gallo’ (The Mass of the Rooster). It is called this because a rooster is supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was born. Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena. In the days before Nochebuena, children might take part in ‘piden el aguinaldo’ where they go and sing carols around their neighbors hoping to get some money! Most families eat their main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve before the service.

The traditional Spanish Christmas dinner was ‘Pavo Trufado de Navidad’ which is Turkey stuffed with truffles (the mushrooms, not the chocolate ones!) or ‘Pularda asada’ (a roasted young hen), although they are not commonly eaten now;

In Galicia (a region in north-west Spain, surrounded by water) the most popular meal for Christmas Eve and for Christmas Day is seafood. This can be all kinds of different seafood, from shellfish and mollusks, to lobster and small edible crabs. Popular desserts and sweets include ‘mazapán’ (made of almonds, sugar and eggs), ‘turrón’ (made of honey and toasted almonds) and ‘polvorones’ (made of flour, butter and sugar).

After the midnight service, one old tradition was for people to walk through the streets carrying torches, playing guitars and beating on tambourines and drums;
One Spanish saying is ‘Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no Es noche de dormir’ which means ‘Tonight is the good night and it is not meant for sleeping!’ A few different languages are spoken in different regions in Spain;

What do they call Santa in Spain?

In Spain, Santa Claus isn’t the star of the show when the holiday season rolls around. – Instead, it’s the Three Wise Men—or los reyes magos —who take center stage during the winter holidays. They’re the ones who bring Spanish children their gifts the night before Three Kings Day in January. Read on to learn more about this beloved Spanish holiday tradition! Christmas On Spain .

What are some fun facts about Christmas in Spain?

La Navidad en España – ‘Merry Christmas’ in Spanish is ‘ Feliz Navidad. ‘ Father Christmas is Papá Noel. In Spain, Christmas celebrations begin from the 8 December. This date is el día de la Inmaculada Concepción. It is a celebration in honour of the Virgin Mary – la Virgen María. There are processions with music and singing. el árbol de Navidad – the Christmas tree los adornos navideños – the Christmas decorations This painting of La Inmaculada is by the Spanish artist, Murillo (1617 – 1682). The painting is kept at el Museo del Prado in Madrid. From the 8 December, in the Catalan area of Spain, families place a special Christmas log in a prominent position in the house. Nowadays, the log has a painted face and stands on legs! It is called el tió de Nadal. The log is kept covered with a blanket and is looked after like a pet until Christmas Day. Children make sure that he is kept warmly covered and pretend to feed him every day, just like feeding a doll. Then, on Christmas Day, children have fun hitting the log with a stick whilst singing a traditional song. Pregunta / Question: Why do they hit the log? Respuesta / Answer: To make it produce little gifts! After singing the song and hitting the log with a stick, they put their hands under the cover to see if the log has produced anything.

It is a national holiday. On 8 December, Spanish families begin to decorate – adornar – their Christmas trees and houses. (When children aren’t looking, grown-ups place the gifts under the cover!) Children keep singing songs and hitting the log to have more goodies.

Eventually, when they can only find something like an onion or garlic, it means that the gifts have run out and the game is over! Pregunta: Why does this tradition exist? Respuesta: In the past, the idea of hitting the log to make it produce gifts was believed to bring good luck for the harvests during the next year.

If you want to buy one of these cute logs, then go to the famous Christmas market of Barcelona. This market is called el mercado de Santa Lucía. Please note that in Catalan el tió means ‘the log’. In standard Castilian Spanish el tío means ‘the uncle.

‘ The accent is written over different letters. These two words, although they look and sound similar, are totally unrelated. During the Christmas period, most Spanish houses will have un portal de Belén (a Christmas Nativity Scene). You can say un belén for short.

El belén can be very beautiful and elaborate. It is a model of the stable with la Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus), el pastor (the shepherd), el ángel ( the angel), los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) and los animales (the animals).

Very often, Spanish children will sing Christmas carols ( villancicos ) whilst admiring el belén. Vocabulario de la Navidad: Some Christmas vocabulary: María y José – Mary and Joseph el Niño Jesús – the Baby Jesus Belén – Bethlehem el ángel – the angel el burro – the donkey la estrella de Belén – the star of Bethlehem el pastor – the shepherd el pesebre – the manger el portal de Belén – the Nativity scene, the Christmas crib el villancico – the Christmas carol On the 22 December there is a famous Christmas lottery and its main prize is nicknamed El Gordo (The Fat One) because of the large amount of money that can be won. On 24 December, the King of Spain makes a traditional Christmas Eve speech. This speech is called El Discurso Nacional De Su Majestad El Rey and it is shown on the television. Traditional Spanish ham is very popular at Christmas. It is known as el jamón serrano. ¡Buen provecho! A sweet nougat called el turrón , an almond pastry called un polvorón , marzipan – el mazapán , shortbread – el mantecado and sparkling Cava wine are also popular. Nuts ( nueces ), mandarins ( mandarinas) and dates ( dátiles ) are also part of Spanish Christmas food. Churros con chocolate are long, thin fritters to dunk in a hot chocolate drink. It is a popular snack at Christmas time. The night of Christmas Eve is very important in Spain. It is called la Nochebuena (the good night). Families eat a special meal on the night of 24 December. This meal is called la cena de Nochebuena. There are many foods prepared for this meal, such as: lamb – el cordero seafood – los mariscos fish – el pescado lobster – la langosta pork – el cerdo turkey – el pavo On the night of Christmas Eve, many people attend Midnight Mass – la misa del gallo.

Another variety is el jamón ibérico;
The ham is sliced very thinly and eaten as an appetiser ( una tapa ) with bread ( el pan );
The night of Nochebuena is a time for family festivities;
There is a Spanish saying:- Esta noche es Nochebuena y no es noche de dormir;

Tonight is Christmas Eve and it’s not a night for sleeping. A Spanish tradition on Christmas Eve is pedir el aguinaldo. This literally means ‘to ask for the Christmas bonus’ and it is a form of ‘carol singing’. Groups of singers knock on neighbours’ doors and sing carols and play instruments in exchange for small gifts such as coins ( monedas ) or sweets ( dulces ). ¡Vamos a cantar villancicos! Christmas Day is el día de Navidad. Many Spanish children receive some gifts from Papá Noel (Father Christmas) but they receive their main gifts from the Three Kings ( los Reyes Magos ) on 6 January! Lucky Spanish children! Boxing Day is called el día de San Esteban or just San Esteban.

The typical instruments played are la pandereta – the tambourine, and a drum called la zambomba. This is Saint Stephen’s Day and it is greatly celebrated in the region of Cataluña. In Spain, the 28 December is similar to April Fools’ Day because people play tricks on one another.

This day is called el día de los Santos Inocentes. It is a day to remember all the babies and young children of Bethlehem who were killed by King Herod’s soldiers at the time of the birth of the Baby Jesus. The Baby Jesus is el Niño Jesús. King Herod is el rey Herodes.

In a town called Ibi , in the area of Alicante, on 28 December, it is the tradition for people to throw flour and eggs at each other! Everyone becomes completely white! This fun tradition is called ‘ Los Enharinados.

‘ The word for flour is la harina. New Year’s Eve is called la Nochevieja (the old night). In Spain at New Year, it is the tradition to eat twelve grapes at midnight – one grape for each stroke of the clock and for each month of the year to come. Those who eat the twelve grapes believe they will have twelve months of good luck. The grapes are known as las uvas de la suerte (the lucky grapes) or las doce uvas (the twelve grapes. ) The most important place to be at midnight for the New Year celebrations is La Puerta del Sol: the main square in the centre of Madrid. The clock in the tower of the historic post office building ( la Real Casa de Correos ) in la Puerta del Sol is the official clock in Spain for announcing midnight. A New Year party is known as un cotillón. To wish someone a ‘Happy New Year’ you can either say ‘ Feliz Año Nuevo ‘ or ‘ Próspero Año Nuevo. Therefore, in remembrance of presenting their gifts to the Holy Child, the Three Kings return each year, travelling throughout the night of 5 January and early hours of 6 January to bring gifts to the children of Spain! The Three Kings are called los Reyes Magos. This name is a way of saying ‘the Magic Kings’. They were ‘magic’ because they studied the stars and the planets to calculate future events. That is why they followed the star of Bethlehem: they just knew that it indicated the birth of a Divine King.

‘ The 6 January is the most important day of Christmas in Spain. It is known as The Day of The Kings – el día de los Reyes. This is the day that celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings at the stable in Bethlehem when they gave their gifts to the Baby Jesus.

On the evening of 5 January, before going to bed, Spanish children write letters to los Reyes Magos , mentioning the gifts that they would like to receive. Their letters begin with the words: Queridos Reyes Magos de Oriente , meaning Dear Kings of the East. Children also leave out plates of food for the Kings and bowls of water for their camels! ( los camellos ) In the morning, hopefully children will find their shoes filled with treats and surrounded by presents! In towns all over Spain there are processions on the 5 January. The special procession is called la cabalgata de los Reyes Magos. It celebrates the journey of the Three Kings as they followed the star to find the Baby Jesus, carrying their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Spanish, these gifts are called oro, incienso y mirra.

After writing their letters, they place their shoes ( zapatos ) under the Christmas tree or in another area where the Kings will find them;
During the processions, sweets ( los caramelos ) are thrown into the crowd from the passing floats;

A special cake is prepared to celebrate the day of the Kings. It is called el roscón de Reyes. It is a ring-shape like a crown and is covered in coloured sweets. The colourful decoration represents the sparkling jewels in the crowns worn by the Kings – los Reyes Magos. Inside the cake, there is a lucky charm in the form of a king figurine – una figura de Rey Mago. The belief is that if you find the charm in your cake, it will bring you good luck for the new year and you will be crowned the king or queen of the party with a cardboard crown! una corona = a crown. But beware! ¡Atención! The cake also contains a dried bean called un haba and if you find it in your slice of cake then you have to pay for the cost of purchasing el roscón! ¡Ay! There is a traditional poem about el roscón de Reyes. Often it is recited before eating the cake: Feliz Roscón de Reyes He aquí el roscón de Reyes Here is the Kings cake tradición de un gran banquete tradition of a grand banquet en el cual hay dos sorpresas in which there are two surprises para los que tengan suerte.

for those who should be so lucky. En él hay muy bien ocultas Inside it there are well hidden un haba y una figura: a bean and a figurine: el que lo vaya a cortar the person who cuts it hágalo sin travesuras.

do so without any mischief. Quien en la boca se encuentre Whoever happens to find in their mouth una cosa un tanto dura something so very hard a lo peor es el haba at worst it will be the bean o a lo mejor la figura. or at best it will be the figurine. Si es el haba lo encontrado If it is the bean that is found este postre pagarás you will pay for this dessert mas si ello es la figura but if it is the figurine coronado y Rey serás.

How does Spain say Merry Christmas?

Spain truly comes alive to celebrate Christmas, or ‘Navidad’ in Spanish. However Spain’s various regions with their own languages of course have their own ways of wishing a ‘Feliz Navidad’; if you visit Catalonia then it’s ‘Bon Nadal’; in Galicia ‘Bo Nadal’ and in the Basque Country the locals will say ‘Eguberri on’.

How long is Christmas in Spain?

Travel Safe Advice for travelling safely Latest news Tourists enjoying Christmas none Christmas is perhaps the most traditional, family-oriented celebration in the whole world, and in Spain it lasts until 6th January. Visiting the country between the middle of December and the start of the New Year is a time that’s always full of lovely moments for sharing. Here are five of the most popular Christmas traditions in Spain.

Drawing the balls of the national lottery.

What is a typical Spanish Christmas dinner?

Turrón | © Lablascovegmenu / Flickr Forget the turkey, mince pies and Christmas pudding; here are the top 10 traditional Christmas foods to indulge in if you want to celebrate Christmas like the Spanish this year. Many Spanish have their main celebratory meal on Christmas Eve, while another special meal is eaten on Three Kings’ Day, on January 6. Entremeses are like an appetiser plate, and are often served at the start of the Christmas or Christmas Eve meal. The plate may contain charcuterie such as ham, chorizo, morcilla (black pudding) and local cheeses such as Manchego. Entremeses platter | © Tamorlan / WikiCommons Seafood plays a big part in a Spanish Christmas meal, and is often served as the main course instead of the traditional turkey. Lobster and prawns are particularly popular, as is a seafood soup or stew as a starter. Seafood | © Maxim Krayushkin/Flickr Cochinillo or roast suckling pig is another favourite Christmas meal in many parts of Spain, particularly around the region of Castilla y León. It is cooked until the skin is brown and crispy, and is often cooked on a bed of onions and potatoes. Roast suckling pig | © fevol / Pixabay Roast lamb is another Castilla y León favourite, but is often enjoyed all around the country as a Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner. Roast lamb dinner | © JudyMcAuliffe / Pixabay Galets soup is a particularly popular Catalan Christmas dish. Galets are huge pasta shells, which are usually stuffed with mince meat and eaten floating around in a meaty soup. Sopa de Galets | © Emi Yañez / Flickr Turrón is the most typical sweet to eat at Christmas time in Spain. A type of nougat, typically made from almonds, it traditionally comes from the Alicante region. These days, you can find all different kinds of turrón for sale, from those made from peanuts or walnuts to bars filled with candied fruit or flavoured to taste like popular Spanish desserts. Turrón | © Lablascovegmenu / Flickr You’ll find the colourfully wrapped polvorónes and mantecados sitting in many supermarkets across Spain around Christmas time. Small sweets or biscuits, mantecados are made from lard and their production dates back to 16th-century Andalusia. Today, they are more popularly found in Antequera, Toledo and Valladolid. Polvorónes are are a type of mantecado , but differ in that they are more powdery and are dusted with powdered sugar. Spanish polvorones | © Roinpa / WikiCommons The Roscón de Reyes is the Spanish version of a Christmas cake. Essentially it is a sweet bread ring topped with pieces of candied fruit and sometimes filled with whipped cream. While it’s eaten for the whole Christmas period, it’s traditionally consumed at the Feast of Epiphany on January 6, also known as Three Kings’ Day. Roscon de Reyes | ©Tamorlan Marzipan, or marzapan in Spanish, is another popular Christmas sweet – a sugary treat made from ground almonds and formed into various shapes. Some of the best marzipan in Spain can be found in the small historic town of Toledo , just south of Madrid. Marzipan sweets | © Tamorlan / WikiCommons No Spanish Christmas meal would be complete without a glass of Cava, the Spanish version of French Champagne. The best Cava can be found in the region of Catalonia, and if you want to see where it is produced, head to the Penedès region. Cava is the Spanish sparkling wine | © cyclonebill.

Do Spanish eat turkey at Christmas?

A country that revolves around the fiesta, no other nation knows how to celebrate like the Spanish. Alongside the music and the late-night socialising, the food brings the party – so when it comes to the festive period, it’s the best place to be. Here’s what’s on the Christmas menu in Spain, in case you’re thinking about mixing it up from turkey and stuffing… To start: Sopa de Galets is the traditional Christmas day starter in Cataluña , Spain’s north-eastern region. Getty Images Main course: For mains, the Spanish love their meat and will often have something roasting in the oven on Christmas day. Unlike the Brits this doesn’t necessarily have to be a turkey – it could be a saddle of lamb or suckling pork, for example. Fish is also very common for a Christmas day main course, particularly in the north of Spain, where their turkey equivalent is a lobster (how posh), or pan fried sea bream.

Simple to make, it’s a soup with pasta shells and sometimes meatballs, and will be found on (almost) every Catalan’s dining table come 25th December. Elsewhere in the country, charcuterie boards of hams, cheeses and olives are popular to kick off the festivities.

And if you want to do things properly, then it’s all served alongside big bowls of potatoes, salads and freshly baked bread that guests can help themselves to. Getty Images Desserts: No Christmas Pudding for the Spanish as their yuletide desserts are entirely different from our own. Favourites are Turrón, a type of nougat made with nuts, and polvorones – crumbly shortbread biscuits. In Spain , Christmas doesn’t end after boxing day, but continues until 6th January, when they celebrate the Epiphany and actually exchange Christmas presents (traditionally a very Catholic country, this is when the three kings reached Jesus and gifted him gold, frankincense and myrrh).

On this day, they eat more dessert, this time in the form of the Roscón de Reyes, which is a doughnut-shaped cake with cream, fruit and nuts. Hidden inside is some sort of trinket: a porcelain figure of baby Jesus, one of the Kings, or a euro coin for non-Christians.

Choking hazard though it may be, it does teach you to eat your cake slowly, rather than in one bite (just me?). Getty Images To drink: No festive celebration is complete without Cava, and lots of it, so if you want to eat like a true Spaniard, wash it all down with a glass or three of Spain’s sparkling wine. ¡Feliz navidad!.

What is the most popular food at Christmas?

The Most Popular Christmas Dishes – The #1 pick is roast potatoes, with a win percentage of 76%. Mashed potatoes came in second (75%), and turkey was third (73%)—the only protein in the top five. Here’s the full list: Courtesy YouGov Check out this top-rated recipe for roasted potatoes. You want potatoes that are crunchy on the outside, and tender and fluffy on the inside!.

What are some fun facts about Christmas in Spain?

La Navidad en España – ‘Merry Christmas’ in Spanish is ‘ Feliz Navidad. ‘ Father Christmas is Papá Noel. In Spain, Christmas celebrations begin from the 8 December. This date is el día de la Inmaculada Concepción. It is a celebration in honour of the Virgin Mary – la Virgen María. There are processions with music and singing. el árbol de Navidad – the Christmas tree los adornos navideños – the Christmas decorations This painting of La Inmaculada is by the Spanish artist, Murillo (1617 – 1682). The painting is kept at el Museo del Prado in Madrid. From the 8 December, in the Catalan area of Spain, families place a special Christmas log in a prominent position in the house. Nowadays, the log has a painted face and stands on legs! It is called el tió de Nadal. The log is kept covered with a blanket and is looked after like a pet until Christmas Day. Children make sure that he is kept warmly covered and pretend to feed him every day, just like feeding a doll. Then, on Christmas Day, children have fun hitting the log with a stick whilst singing a traditional song. Pregunta / Question:   Why do they hit the log? Respuesta / Answer: To make it produce little gifts!   After singing the song and hitting the log with a stick, they put their hands under the cover to see if the log has produced anything.

It is a national holiday. On 8 December, Spanish families begin to decorate – adornar – their Christmas trees and houses. (When children aren’t looking, grown-ups place the gifts under the cover!) Children keep singing songs and hitting the log to have more goodies.

Eventually, when they can only find something like an onion or garlic, it means that the gifts have run out and the game is over! Pregunta: Why does this tradition exist?   Respuesta: In the past, the idea of hitting the log to make it produce gifts was believed to bring good luck for the harvests during the next year.

If you want to buy one of these cute logs, then go to the famous Christmas market of Barcelona. This market is called el mercado de Santa Lucía. Please note that in Catalan el tió means ‘the log’. In standard Castilian Spanish el tío means ‘the uncle.

‘ The accent is written over different letters. These two words, although they look and sound similar, are totally unrelated. During the Christmas period, most Spanish houses will have un portal de Belén (a Christmas Nativity Scene). You can say un belén for short.

El belén can be very beautiful and elaborate. It is a model of the stable with la Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus), el pastor (the shepherd), el ángel ( the angel), los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) and los animales (the animals).

Very often, Spanish children will sing Christmas carols ( villancicos ) whilst admiring el belén. Vocabulario de la Navidad: Some Christmas vocabulary: María y José – Mary and Joseph el Niño Jesús – the Baby Jesus Belén – Bethlehem el ángel – the angel el burro – the donkey la estrella de Belén – the star of Bethlehem el pastor – the shepherd el pesebre – the manger el portal de Belén – the Nativity scene, the Christmas crib el villancico – the Christmas carol On the 22 December there is a famous Christmas lottery and its main prize is nicknamed El Gordo (The Fat One) because of the large amount of money that can be won. On 24 December, the King of Spain makes a traditional Christmas Eve speech. This speech is called El Discurso Nacional De Su Majestad El Rey and it is shown on the television. Traditional Spanish ham is very popular at Christmas. It is known as el jamón serrano. ¡Buen provecho! A sweet nougat called el turrón , an almond pastry called un polvorón , marzipan – el mazapán , shortbread – el mantecado and sparkling Cava wine are also popular. Nuts ( nueces ), mandarins ( mandarinas) and dates ( dátiles ) are also part of Spanish Christmas food. Churros con chocolate are long, thin fritters to dunk in a hot chocolate drink. It is a popular snack at Christmas time. The night of Christmas Eve is very important in Spain. It is called la Nochebuena (the good night). Families eat a special meal on the night of 24 December. This meal is called la cena de Nochebuena. There are many foods prepared for this meal, such as: lamb – el cordero seafood – los mariscos fish – el pescado lobster – la langosta pork – el cerdo turkey – el pavo On the night of Christmas Eve, many people attend Midnight Mass – la misa del gallo.

Another variety is el jamón ibérico. The ham is sliced very thinly and eaten as an appetiser ( una tapa ) with bread ( el pan ). The night of Nochebuena is a time for family festivities. There is a Spanish saying:- Esta noche es Nochebuena y no es noche de dormir.

Tonight is Christmas Eve and it’s not a night for sleeping. A Spanish tradition on Christmas Eve is pedir el aguinaldo. This literally means ‘to ask for the Christmas bonus’ and it is a form of ‘carol singing’. Groups of singers knock on neighbours’ doors and sing carols and play instruments in exchange for small gifts such as coins ( monedas ) or sweets ( dulces ). ¡Vamos a cantar villancicos! Christmas Day is el día de Navidad. Many Spanish children receive some gifts from Papá Noel (Father Christmas) but they receive their main gifts from the Three Kings ( los Reyes Magos ) on 6 January!   Lucky Spanish children! Boxing Day is called el día de San Esteban or just San Esteban.

The typical instruments played are la pandereta – the tambourine, and a drum called la zambomba. This is Saint Stephen’s Day and it is greatly celebrated in the region of Cataluña. In Spain, the 28 December is similar to April Fools’ Day because people play tricks on one another.

This day is called el día de los Santos Inocentes. It is a day to remember all the babies and young children of Bethlehem who were killed by King Herod’s soldiers at the time of the birth of the Baby Jesus. The Baby Jesus is el Niño Jesús. King Herod is el rey Herodes.

In a town called Ibi , in the area of Alicante, on 28 December, it is the tradition for people to throw flour and eggs at each other! Everyone becomes completely white! This fun tradition is called ‘ Los Enharinados.

‘ The word for flour is la harina. New Year’s Eve is called la Nochevieja (the old night). In Spain at New Year, it is the tradition to eat twelve grapes at midnight – one grape for each stroke of the clock and for each month of the year to come. Those who eat the twelve grapes believe they will have twelve months of good luck. The grapes are known as las uvas de la suerte (the lucky grapes) or las doce uvas (the twelve grapes. ) The most important place to be at midnight for the New Year celebrations is La Puerta del Sol: the main square in the centre of Madrid. The clock in the tower of the historic post office building ( la Real Casa de Correos ) in la Puerta del Sol is the official clock in Spain for announcing midnight. A New Year party is known as un cotillón. To wish someone a ‘Happy New Year’ you can either say ‘ Feliz Año Nuevo ‘ or ‘ Próspero Año Nuevo. Therefore, in remembrance of presenting their gifts to the Holy Child, the Three Kings return each year, travelling throughout the night of 5 January and early hours of 6 January to bring gifts to the children of Spain! The Three Kings are called los Reyes Magos. This name is a way of saying ‘the Magic Kings’. They were ‘magic’ because they studied the stars and the planets to calculate future events. That is why they followed the star of Bethlehem: they just knew that it indicated the birth of a Divine King.

‘ The 6 January is the most important day of Christmas in Spain. It is known as The Day of The Kings – el día de los Reyes. This is the day that celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings at the stable in Bethlehem when they gave their gifts to the Baby Jesus.

On the evening of 5 January, before going to bed, Spanish children write letters to los Reyes Magos , mentioning the gifts that they would like to receive. Their letters begin with the words: Queridos Reyes Magos de Oriente , meaning Dear Kings of the East. Children also leave out plates of food for the Kings and bowls of water for their camels! ( los camellos ) In the morning, hopefully children will find their shoes filled with treats and surrounded by presents! In towns all over Spain there are processions on the 5 January. The special procession is called la cabalgata de los Reyes Magos. It celebrates the journey of the Three Kings as they followed the star to find the Baby Jesus, carrying their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Spanish, these gifts are called oro, incienso y mirra.
- After writing their letters, they place their shoes ( zapatos ) under the Christmas tree or in another area where the Kings will find them;
- During the processions, sweets ( los caramelos ) are thrown into the crowd from the passing floats;
A special cake is prepared to celebrate the day of the Kings. It is called el roscón de Reyes. It is a ring-shape like a crown and is covered in coloured sweets. The colourful decoration represents the sparkling jewels in the crowns worn by the Kings – los Reyes Magos. Inside the cake, there is a lucky charm in the form of a king figurine – una figura de Rey Mago. The belief is that if you find the charm in your cake, it will bring you good luck for the new year and you will be crowned the king or queen of the party with a cardboard crown! una corona = a crown. But beware! ¡Atención! The cake also contains a dried bean called un haba and if you find it in your slice of cake then you have to pay for the cost of purchasing el roscón! ¡Ay! There is a traditional poem about el roscón de Reyes. Often it is recited before eating the cake: Feliz Roscón de Reyes He aquí el roscón de Reyes Here is the Kings cake tradición de un gran banquete tradition of a grand banquet en el cual hay dos sorpresas in which there are two surprises para los que tengan suerte.
1. for those who should be so lucky;
2. En él hay muy bien ocultas Inside it there are well hidden un haba y una figura: a bean and a figurine: el que lo vaya a cortar the person who cuts it hágalo sin travesuras;
do so without any mischief. Quien en la boca se encuentre Whoever happens to find in their mouth una cosa un tanto dura something so very hard a lo peor es el haba at worst it will be the bean o a lo mejor la figura. or at best it will be the figurine. Si es el haba lo encontrado If it is the bean that is found este postre pagarás you will pay for this dessert mas si ello es la figura but if it is the figurine coronado y Rey serás.

What is Santa Claus called in Spain?

Spanish : Papa Noel (lit. Father Christmas) – The man behind the Spanish name for Santa Claus is commonly known to give out presents on 24th December or 25th December (from Papa Noel ), or on 6th January (from the Three Kings). In South America, a family member often dresses up as Papa Noel and give gifts to the children while they try and guess who the family member is! While in countries like Mexico and Venezuela, presents might also be brought by El Niñito Dios (baby Jesus) or Santo Clós (Santa Claus).

What is the tradition of Christmas?

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature.
1. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion;
2. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive;
December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870. Watch Christmas documentaries on HISTORY Vault.

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