CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN !!!

CHRISTMAS PERIOD Christmas and St Stephen's Day are officially recognized holidays

in Spain . In most of Spain, the Christmas period, referred to as "Navidad", lasts from Christmas Eve referred to as "Nochebuena" or "the Good Night" on the 24th of December to Epiphany on the 6 January. Many homes and most churches display a Nativity scene, others a Christmas tree.

Children usually receive one or two presents on Christmas Day brought by "Papá Noel" ,which is a non-traditional imitation of the American Santa Claus, but in some regions there are other more traditional characters, for example the Olentzero in the Basque country. There is a special Christmas dance called the Jota which is performed since last hundreds of years in Spain during Christmas.

TRADITIONAL FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS

A large family dinner is celebrated on Christmas Eve and can last until 6 o'clock in the morning. There is a wide variety of typical food one might find on plates across Spain on this particular night, and each region has its own distinct specialities.

FOOD…

They start the meal with seafood dishes such us prawns or salmon…

Next are coming bowls of hot homemade soup…

And for the dessert they made the turron which is made of honey and eggs …

Some special traditions…

On 31 December there is also a large family feast. Some young people go out in "cotillón", a very big feast in bars and pubs and they drink and dance until 1 January morning, when they have churrors with chocolate for breakfast. On 5 January a huge parade “La Cabalgata “ welcomes the Three Kings to the city. Children put their shoes in the window on 5 January in the hope that the Three Wise Men will deliver them presents.

…… Some other traditions are "Nacimiento“, Christmas trees, and remarkable Christmas markets scattered among villages and cities with piles of fruits, flowers, marzipan and other sweets, candles, decorations and hand-made Christmas gifts.

SOURCES

• en.wikipedia.org