Spanish Christmas
In Spain Christmas is celebrated on various days, but the most important days are 25th December and 6th January. Christmas in Spain is a religious holiday (more than in the Czech Republic). People go to church to see a mass, and they decorate their houses with a nativity scene with little figures representing the Jesus, Joseph, Mary, Three Kings, animals, etc.
Unlike in the Czech Republic, not in every family there is a Christmas tree. Children receive presents on 25th December (they are brought by “Papa Noel”) and/or on 6th January (they are brought by the Three Kings). Many people buy Christmas lottery because they want to win money.
The 28th of December is called Holy Innocents’ Day. On this day people usually play jokes on each other and buy funny masks. At midnight on the New Year’s Eve (31st December) people eat 12 grapes. With each of them they make one wish. Spanish pupils have Christmas holidays usually from 21st December to 7th January. During the holidays they usually relax, but some of them also study because they have exams at the beginning of January.
Spaniards eat their Christmas dinner on 24th December at about 10pm. They eat Christmas lunch on 25th December at about 3pm. Spaniards eat a great variety of food on these days, usually stew with chickpeas, fish, seafood, lamb, etc. And a lot of sweets, of course. Both lunch and dinner are long, there are several courses served and people talk a lot and enjoy the time with their large families.
There are many Christmas carols and fairy tales in Spain. Two examples of the carols are Silent Night (Noche de Paz) and Jingle Bells (Cascabels).
Unlike in the Czech Republic, not in every family there is a Christmas tree. Children receive presents on 25th December (they are brought by “Papa Noel”) and/or on 6th January (they are brought by the Three Kings). Many people buy Christmas lottery because they want to win money.
The 28th of December is called Holy Innocents’ Day. On this day people usually play jokes on each other and buy funny masks. At midnight on the New Year’s Eve (31st December) people eat 12 grapes. With each of them they make one wish. Spanish pupils have Christmas holidays usually from 21st December to 7th January. During the holidays they usually relax, but some of them also study because they have exams at the beginning of January.
Spaniards eat their Christmas dinner on 24th December at about 10pm. They eat Christmas lunch on 25th December at about 3pm. Spaniards eat a great variety of food on these days, usually stew with chickpeas, fish, seafood, lamb, etc. And a lot of sweets, of course. Both lunch and dinner are long, there are several courses served and people talk a lot and enjoy the time with their large families.
There are many Christmas carols and fairy tales in Spain. Two examples of the carols are Silent Night (Noche de Paz) and Jingle Bells (Cascabels).