Our traditions at our Christmas Calendar
Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy or nougat.
On Christmas Day, families have a big lunch together at home and at the end of it they make their children poo a smiling log called “Tio de Nadal” . Some days before Christmas children feed the log day. On Christmas day, it delivers lots of sweets and presents for all the kids each time they beat him while singing a traditional song that asks for more candy and presents. Eventually the log poops a piece of coal which means he has finished pooping presents. The family generally stays at home the whole day.
December 26 is a holiday day, called Saint Stephen or San Esteban. That day families rest together with their closer relatives and have another big meal at lunch time. They can play family games at home or they can go out in the afternoon to the cinema or do any entertainment activity.
December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys or girls of a town or village try to play a trick on someone else in order to have fun and laugh at each other like "Fool's Day".
As in many European countries, the children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany, the 6th of January. The Magic Kings are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with some food for the camels of the three Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides 3rd position and is the one believed to leave the best gifts.
We wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
