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Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the "dance of six." Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." There is singing and dancing in the streets to the sounds of guitars and castanets. At midnight everyone attends the Misa del Gallo, the Mass of the Rooster, so named because of the legend that the only time the rooster has crowed at midnight was the night when Jesus was born. After mass the dinner, or cena, is served, usually featuring turkey and the Christmas favorite turron, a candy loaf of roasted almonds in caramel sauce. It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders
townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. As in many
European countries, the children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley for the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts. Nativity scenes are very important in Spanish Christmases. Many families have nativity scenes at home and there are also many public displays. Javea is one of many Spanish towns with large public nativity scenes. Often there are also other Biblical scenes.
Christmas is traditionally a deeply religious holiday in Spain. This is beginning to change as Spain has begun to move down the path of a largely de-Chritiamized Europe as persued in other other western European countries. The process, however, is not as advanced in Spain as in other countries.
Nativity scenes are very important in Spanish Christmases. Many families have nativity scenes at home and there are also many public displays. Javea is one of many Spanish towns with large public nativity scenes. Often there are also other Biblical scenes. <>br>
Spain's patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the "dance of six." Oddly, the elaborate ritual dance is now performed by not six but ten elaborately costumed boys. It is a series of precise movements and gestures and is said to be quite moving and beautiful.
Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." There is singing and dancing in the streets to the sounds of guitars and castanets. At midnight everyone attends the Misa del Gallo, the Mass of the Rooster, so named because of the legend that the only time the rooster has crowed at midnight was the night when Jesus was born. After mass the dinner, or cena, is served, usually featuring turkey and the Christmas favorite turron, a candy loaf of roasted almonds in caramel sauce. It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home.
December 28 is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders
townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to
comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.
As in many
European countries and Latin America, the children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. This of course is based on the Biblical account of the Magi who carried precious gifts to the baby Jesus. I am not sure when the tradition of giving gifts to children first developed in Spain. The Magi are, however, particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children traditionally leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley for the horses of the Wise Men. (In recent years they have begun to be placed in other locations as well, including the door and in some cases under the Christmas trees that have begun to appear in Spanish homes.) Children compose letters to the three kings (magi): Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar. This may be more common among Hispanic children in America than in Spain. The children's favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts. Only recently have Christmas trees began to appear with the nativity scenes in Spanish homes. A tradition of Three Kings Day is for the entire family to have hot chocolate with Rosca de Reyes which is a crown-shaped sweet breat beautifully decorated with dried fruit. This is especially popular in Mexico. We are less sure about Spain. Spanish children normally only get presents on Three Kings Days. Many Hispanic children in America get a real bonanza. Not only does Santa bring gifys on Christmas, but the Three Kings also deliver gifts on their day.
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