FELIZ NAVIDAD

Y próspero año nuevo

El Belén

Spanish houses are decoratedwith el Belén. The main charactersare la Virgen María, San José and elNiño Jesús but there are manyothers: los Reyes Magos, el ángel,los pastores…

This is a Belén!

El árbol de Navidad

Even if it’s a traditionoriginally from the northerncountries, in almost everySpanish house there is unárbol de Navidad. Wedecorate it with bolas,espumillón, luces and laestrella.

El Gordo de Navidad

On the 22nd December Christmasstarts officially. There is a biglottery draw, which is called elGordo, and you can win lots ofmoney. Every year, the studentsof San Ildefonso school in Madridare the ones in charge of callingthe numbers.

24 de diciembreOn this day children go togethersinging villancicos (SpanishChristmas Carols) from house tohouse. They ask for elaguinaldo, which is the money given in Christmas.

Those are some of theinstruments used forsinging the villancicos!

Zambomba Pandereta

Cascabel

NochebuenaOn Nochebuena families gettogether to have dinner. Theyusually eat seafood, fish, stuffedeggs, ham, cheese...The traditional Christmas sweetsare el turrón, los polvoronesand los mazapanes …

El día de NavidadEven if Spanish childrenknow who Santa Clausis he doesn't usuallybring them presents.However, Spanish childrendo get presents! On the Epiphany three misterious men will come to Spain ...

Día de los InocentesThe 28th December is Spanish April fool's day! On that day people makejokes to each other and they say“¡Inocente!”

NocheviejaIt is the last night of the year.Families get together to havedinner and at midnight they watchlas campanadas on TV or they go tothe town hall square. With every bellring we eat 1 uva and we make a wish.A big party follows!

La noche de ReyesThere are three Reyes Magos: Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar. They come from the Far East in theircamels and they leave presents in Spanish homes.

On el 5 de enero at night people welcome them in their cities with big parades and the Reyes Magos throw sweets as they maketheir way.

Spanish children write a carta to them saying how they have behaved during the year and what they would like to get. On the night of the 5th children clean their shoes and leave them by the árbol deNavidad or the Belén. They also leave food and water for the ReyesMagos and their camellos.

Día de ReyesOn the 6 de enero children willget regalos if they have behavedotherwise they will get carbón.On that day we have chocolate calienteand roscón de reyes for breakfast.