Christmas Traditions in Spain

Christmas is a spirited festival that is celebrated by Christians all over the world. Yes, Christmas around the world is celebrated in the truest sense of the word. However, geographical distances slowly creep into every walk of life and it's no different when it comes to Christmas traditions. Yes, there are some traditions that are native to a certain place or country. Yes the Christmas traditions in Spain are slightly different from, say German Christmas traditions and the sort. This is the place where life size Nativity scenes are seen on every street. Given below are details of some Xmas traditions that are native to Spain.

Christmas Eve: 24th December
Christmas eve is known as Nochebuena in Spain and just like Christmas eve traditions elsewhere in the world. On this Blessed Night, as soon as the first star is seen, as a part of the Christmas tradition, people end up lighting bonfires in public spaces. A burning candle is often placed around the door and people fast the entire day. They then attend Christmas mass and return home to a huge Christmas feast that is full of Christmas recipes along with some Spanish food. There's almond soup, roasted meat, suckling pig, duck, along with plenty of seafood like crabs and lobsters. The Christmas dessert menu is no less, and has turrón and marzapan, which are made with honey and eggs. Also, this feast would not be complete without polvorones. The Spanish equivalent of champagne, cava, is served to drink.

Christmas Day: 25th December
Christmas is celebrated with family and friends. There are usually family reunions and all the relatives come together more feast and fun. Christmas gifts are exchanged and friends and neighbors also drop by to join in the celebration. Christmas cookies are laid out for everyone that is welcomed into the house. Everyone wishes each other with the traditional phrase 'Feliz Navidad' or 'Merry Christmas' in Spanish.

Day of Innocents: 28th December
While for most people, the next thing to look forward to now is New Years, it is different in Spain. One of the special tradition, which is exclusively limited to this country is the celebration of the Day of the Innocents. This is celebrated on the 28th of December. Although according to history this was a day when a huge massacre had taken place, where some people died as martyrs for Christ, it is now celebrated as a Spanish version of April Fool's Day. Yes, on this day, people play pranks on others and even the media joins in the fun and publishes false make-believe reports for the people the read.

New Year's Eve: 31st December
Spain is definitely one of the best New Year's eve destinations. On New Year's eve, known as Nochevieja, all the main squares are lit up. The celebrations are shown live on television and one of the joys of celebrating Christmas in Spain along with New Year is that as the clock strikes twelve and ushers in New Year's day, you'll see people holding a handful of grapes. Legend has it, that if you eat twelve grapes at the beginning of the new year, then it will give you twelve months of good luck. Surely one of the unique New Year and Christmas traditions.

Three King's Day: 6th January
While the beginning of the New Year effectively puts an end to celebrations the world over, things are different for Spain. In Spain, the craze of Santa Claus is relatively lesser, as the Spanish equivalent of Santa, Papa Noel, instead is more commonly found distributing gift to eager children. Also, unlike Christmas in other parts of the world, gifts are not given to all children only on Christmas day but are distributed on the 6th of January, or the Three King's Day. It is believed that The Magi or the Three King's will bring gifts for the children. The children happily place their shoes in the windowsill, filled with straw and carrots for the horses of The Magi just before they go off to sleep. Also, one of the Spanish Christmas traditions is eating the dessert Roscón de los Reyes on this day, a cake which has candies adorning it so as to give it a feel of royalty.

So, these were the various traditions that are celebrated around Christmas time in Spain. Spain during Christmas surely is all lit up and you can feel the magic in the air. There are also a few queer Christmas traditions besides these, like in Valencia, on the Day of the Innocents, people in this place throw flour at each other! Also, in La Font de la Figuera, once again near to Valencia, the New Year is ushered in by... stripping down to your underwear and running through the streets! Oh and the underwear must be red in color! Also, all the Nativity scenes have a Caganer, which is a small figure that looks like it is defecating! All of these traditions are unique to this great country. So, surely, all the above mentioned crazy but interesting traditions surely makes a Spain travel as a Christmas vacation a worthwhile one!