So, what does Christmas mean to you?
Some days off work? Time with loved ones? A fat guy in a red suit flying over rooftops in a sleigh pulled by reindeer?
When I was younger, living at home with my parents and brother, Christmas was a happy time, but quite simple. The stocking left at the end of the bed at night was filled with useful things, new underwear, or a scarf, and at the bottom of the stocking was a real orange. The main present was under the tree, and the only one I can really remember was the year I got my bicycle. Dinner was a roast chicken, with vegetables and stuffing, again not that special, more like a normal Sunday roast. However, we did have one of my grandmother´s legendary puddings for dessert, served with custard. Afterwards, while my parents rested, we would play with our new present and then in the evening the whole family would play a board game, such as Monopoly.
One year when I was a teenager, I heard how originally presents were given on Boxing Day, hence the name, as gifts were presented in boxes. I therefore collected three large boxes from nearby shops, and covered them in wrapping paper, one for each of my parents and one for my brother. Inside each box were individually wrapped gifts, and the box itself was tied up with ribbon with a bow on top. My mother was especially delighted, as she thought the boxes were beautiful, and my idea very novel. She kept the boxes and used them ensuing Christmases, although she changed her name to mine!
As an adult, when my children were grown up, they would come to my house for Christmas lunch, and my lunch was a little more elaborate. After a starter of smoked salmon and prawns, there would be roast turkey or goose, roast pork, roast potatoes, three home made stuffings and a variety of vegetables and accompaniments. After there would be Christmas pudding and mince pies with ice cream, custard and clotted cream, for each to decide which they wanted, or to have a bit of each was, of course allowed.
However, here where I live now, the Spaniards celebrate Christmas in a completely different way. For a start, Christmas does not really get underway until late November. Places that are famous for their Christmas street decorations, such as Malaga (the most famous for its lights) and Madrid turn on the Christmas lights on the last Friday of November. In Antas, where I live, they were lit on the 5th of December. Also, there are poinsettias everywhere, in all the flower beds lining the streets.
However, the main difference is how they celebrate the season. In the UK, a common greeting is “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. In Spain, it is easier to say “Felicidades!” The reason for this is you are wishing them a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a Happy 3 Kings Day too! So, saying felicidades means you are greeting them for all three.
The most important meal is Christmas Eve, when the extended family gets together and feasts on appetizers, perhaps a fish soup, then either/ or a selection of, seafood, suckling pig and leg of lamb. This will be followed by their traditional Christmas sweets of turron and marzipan.
New Years Eve, at midnight, the tradition is to eat twelve grapes, and believe me you need the seedless ones, and you are supposed to have swallowed them by the end of the twelve clock chimes.
On the evening of the 5th of January, the 3 Kings parade through the streets of every town throwing out sweets to the children. As in the Bible story the kings were the ones who brought gifts to the baby Jesus, so in Spain the main day of exchanging presents is January 6th. For young children, it is not Father Christmas who brings the gifts, but the three Kings. The Spanish also have a special cake for that time, a Roscón de Reyes, which is two layers of sweet, yeasted dough, sandwiched with fluffy cream, and on top, dried and candied fruits to mimic the jewels on the crowns of the kings.
So, you can see that Spain is quite different from the UK. If you have any local traditions where you live, please share them with me!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Or Felicidades!
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