Spanish Christmas customs D' Grey: Lowdham C of E School

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Spanish ChristmascustomsD. Grey Lowdham C of
E School
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Spanish people celebrate Christmas with many of
the usual festivities, presents, trees, parties
and time spent with their families.However
there are several Christmas celebrations, which
are unique to the Spanish culture.Read on to
find out more about

• Hogueras
• La Misa Del Gallo
• Pavo Tufado de Navidad
• Turron
• El Dia de Reyes
• Nacimientos
• Vocabulary of Christmas

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Hogueras
This tradition comes from a time before Christmas
itself and takes place on the 21st December.
It was originally a pagan ritual to mark The
Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year,
and the arrival of winter.
Hogueras involves people jumping over lighted
fires in the hope that it would protect them from
illness over the coming months which would have
proved a difficult time for them.
Hogueras means bonfires
This fire-jumping can be seen mainly in Granada
and Jaen.
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La Misa Del Gallo
This traditional church service takes place on
Christmas Eve when family celebrations are
interrupted at midnight by the ringing of church
bells calling the people to the Mass of the
Rooster La Misa Del Gallo
Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena meaning the
Good Night.
The service gets its name because it is said that
the only time when a Rooster crowed at midnight
was on the day that Jesus was born.
One of the most beautiful services is held at the
monastery of Montserrat, high in the mountain
near Barcelona, the highlight of which is the
amazing singing by the boys choir.
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Pavo Tufado de Navidad
In Spain, Christmas dinner is eaten late on
Christmas Eve before the family attends mass. The
most important part of the meal is a turkey
stuffed with truffles (pavo trufado de navidad).
White truffles are a delicacy. They are like
mushrooms but they grow underground and are very
expensive.
After dinner the family gather around the
Christmas tree and sings traditional carols.
Celebrations go on late into the night an old
Spanish verse says Esta noche es Noche-Buena, y
no es noche de dormir.This is the good-night,
therefore it is not meant for sleep.
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Turron
Turron is a nougat although it is available all
year, it is a traditional Christmas treat many
different types are available.

• Turron de Jijona
• 250 gms sugar
• 250 grams white honey
• 250 grams toasted almonds
• 250 grams toasted hazelnuts
• 5 egg whites
• 1 dessertspoon cinnamon
• Crush the nuts in the mortar until they become a
  smooth paste
• Beat the eggs whites stiffly and then add them to
  the paste
• Put the honey and sugar in a saucepan and bring
  to the boil
• Add the paste to the honey mixture
• Mix constantly with a wooden spatula for ten
  minutes
• Remove from the heat, put into wooden moulds
  lined with rice paper
• Leave to cool and then sprinkle with cinnamon 

For example turron de Almendra (almond), turron
de Cacauetes (peanut) and turron de Avellana
(roasted hazelnut)
Two towns famous for their turron are Alicante,
which produces a hard turron and Jijona, which
makes a soft turron.
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El Día de Reyes
On the 5th of January, the Eve of Epiphany, there
are parades in most towns marking the arrival of
the three kings, who are believed to have passed
through Spain on their way to see baby Jesus. The
Three Kings ride on floats throwing candy to the
children. 
The three kings appear all over Spain in the run
up to Christmas in hospitals and orphanages etc.
It is believed that Balthazar is the king who
brings the gifts.
The children place shoes, filled with straw,
carrots and barley for the donkeys, on their
windowsills and hope that when they wake on el
Día de Reyes (The Day of the Kings) the food will
have been replaced by gifts.
Some say that Santa Claus takes presents away
from children who are naughty!
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Nacimiento
The tradition of Nacimientos involves making and
decorating complicated nativity scenes. Many
scenes contain a stream or brook and animals such
as pigs, sheep, donkeys and possible a bull!
Another name for a nativity scene is Belén, which
is the Spanish for Bethleham, the place where
Jesus was born.
Many homes has nacimientos and towns have very
elaborate displays in the centre of town.
Some towns show the scenes leading up to the
birth of Jesus and others use real actors. One
town in Spain shows 25 different scenes and uses
180 actors. As a results, these nacimientos have
become tourist attractions all over Spain.
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Christmas Vocabulary
Feliz Navidad! - Merry
Christmas! Felices Fiestas! - Seasons
Greetings!
árbol de Navidad - Christmas tree
regalo de Navidad - Christmas present
adornos de Navidad - Christmas
decorations una corona de Navidad -
Christmas wreath la
comida del día de Navidad - Christmas dinner
un tarjeta de Navidad, un crismas -
a Christmas card un villancico -
Christmas carol Baltasar, Gaspar,
Melchor - Balthasar, Gaspar, Mechior (3 wise
men/3 kings) los Reyes Magos -
The three kings, three wise men el
muérdago - mistletoe el acebo -
holly el
espumillón - tinsel un auto de Navidad -
a nativity play
pastores - shepherds
los
ángeles - angels un burro - donkey
Papá Noel - Santa Claus
Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! - Merry
Christmas and a Happy/Prosperous New
Year!