CHRISTMAS EVE BY CARL LARSSON
So, Christmas is almost upon us again and with it the chance for a rest – after a year that has been testing for most people – with the Spanish economy ‘melting down’ and the Eurozone problems of worry to any expatriate living in Spain. Thankfully, for a few days at least, that can be forgotten.
In any event, Spain for most people is about holidays and that is one area in which Spain excels both during the summer season and throughout the rest of the year. Indeed, Christmas in Spain is often notable for its excellent weather particularly around the Mediterranean coastline where daytime temperatures can easily climb into the 20s – which is as good a reason as any to come to Spain. Certainly, to experience the brilliant blue skies and bright natural colours of Spain, after months of greyness in Northern Europe, can be a terrific panacea and one that can suppress the winter ‘blues’.
As a keen rock climber, I love the winter months in Spain as the weather is often deal for climbing and any outdoor sports. In fact, even after several years here, I still cannot help feeling somewhat ‘spoiled’ as I spend a December day in a Tee shirt and shorts climbing magnificent quality rock, amidst beautiful countryside – whilst remembering days in the UK freezing beside some wind lashed crag!
That said, Christmas in Spain ‘feels’ quite different from the UK in ways beyond the weather. Partially, I think this is due to the different way in which Christmas is celebrated in Spain which is very drawn out and yet somewhat unconnected.
Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are important to the Spanish and are celebrated as family occasions with a dinner on Christmas Eve and lunch on Christmas Day. However, presents are not normally given out on Christmas Eve in Spain or the Day itself. They are given on the 12th day of Christmas (Los Reyes – The Three Kings/Three Wise Men). This is an important celebration and is accompanied by cavalcades, invariably with camels, signifying the journey of the Three Kings to Christ.
Christmas in Spain Christmas in Spain is a rather odd experience
The odd thing for anyone from the UK is that Christmas in Spain lacks a Boxing Day or national holiday immediately after Christmas Day. Evidently, in the past, this was the case and was called (imaginatively) the Second Day of Christmas but has lapsed. So, Christmas feels very short because everyone is back at work the day after. This, of course, is noticeably the case this year with Christmas falling on a Sunday – meaning that Christmas week will take the form of any other working week…
THE WRITER CLIMBING IN DECEMBER
Equally, the notion of Santa Claus or Father Christmas is relatively new in Spain and is a trend that has come from Northern Europe and the US. In years past you would not have seen Father Christmas signs and images in Spain at all but now these are almost as common as in the UK (the power of attractive commercialisation, I suspect!)
I think what is somewhat striking is that Spain has innumerable fiestas throughout the year both national and local with several of these fiestas lasting a whole week. Las Fallas in Valencia Province is a fine example as are the village and town fiestas each of which last four or five days (during which all work halts). However, when it comes to Christmas – well, by comparison, the number of ‘days off’ are few, to put it mildly, and this from a country with a long Catholic religious tradition!
In any event, whether you are coming for Christmas in Spain as a holidaymaker or living here permanently then enjoy yourself – and from all the team at Culture Spain – have a Happy Christmas and a wonderful and fulfilling New Year!
Nick Snelling – Culture Spain
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Christmas in Spain is a rather odd experience