Christmas traditions in Spain
- 1. CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN OUR COUNTRY
- 2. New Year’s Eve It is a celebration around the world. It is celebrated at 00:00 on the 1st of January, it means that a new year has begun. In Spain when the clock strikes twelve we eat twelve grapes, one every second. Then we toast for the new year.
- 3. El gordo: Spain’s Christmas lottery The tradition started in 1812. It is celebrated every year on December 22. It is very popular and known around the world.
- 4. Saint Stephen day is celebrated the day after Christmas in three communities in Spain. Friends and family join for lunch. It’s typical to eat Canelloni and a meat meal called “Escudella”.
- 5. Day of the innocents It is Spain’s version of April Fools day but it takes place on December 28. In the past, children used to go from door to door asking for sweets. Bakers used to put salt in their cakes on this day to tease children. Now we do tricks like sticking paper cut-outs on people’s backs.
- 6. King's twist It is a Christmas cake that is eaten with the family on 6th January. Roscón means 'roll of ring shape', it is very tasty. It is a cake made with cream or chocolate, candied fruit and sponge cake. Inside there is a king and a bean. If your piece contains the bean, you have to pay it the following year. If it contains the king, you are the king and you get a paper crown. “TORTELL DE REIS”
- 7. “CAGA TIÓ” (CHRISTMAS LOG) “Caga tio” is Catalan tradition. The tió is a little trunk . Children hit it with a stick and then the tió gives them gifts. Ivan Sergio
- 8. Santa Claus Run It is celebrated on December 17. It’s a charity run. People dress as Santa Claus.
- 9. Manger Christians decorate houses and squares with a model about the birth of Jesus. In the manger there are Saint Joseph, Virgin Mary, Jesus, a donkey and an ox and sometimes an angel, shepherds and the three kings.
- 10. The christmas tree is a decoration object, it is decorated with colorful lights, Christmas balls, ornaments or bows. CHRISTMAS TREE HISTORY Its history begins when Christians in north of Europe discovered that the barbars celebrated the birthday of their God by decorating a perennial tree.