Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Dec 13th 2006, 7:35 pm
#61
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Gift giving isn't a bad thing, really. Afterall, the 3 Kings did it! Let the emphasis remain on the giving rather than the receiving.
Yes, I understand your points about over-indulgence & commercialism. It's a pain, but, as adults, can we really blame anyone else?[/QUOTE]
No, you are quite right - and as an adult I now feel thoroughly ashamed! Shall just have to indulge in another brandy to make myself feel better - only joking! Hope you have a fab christmas!
Yes, I understand your points about over-indulgence & commercialism. It's a pain, but, as adults, can we really blame anyone else?[/QUOTE]
No, you are quite right - and as an adult I now feel thoroughly ashamed! Shall just have to indulge in another brandy to make myself feel better - only joking! Hope you have a fab christmas!
Dec 13th 2006, 7:38 pm
#62
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,377
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Cheers!
Who said being an adult was easy!
Best wishes for an answer to your other post.
Who said being an adult was easy!
Best wishes for an answer to your other post.
Dec 13th 2006, 7:42 pm
#63
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 9,845
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by Carol&John
Hi again,
I'm in a very nice place, and we have quite a few Spanish visitors to our shores/greens. There's a clue.
I'm in a very nice place, and we have quite a few Spanish visitors to our shores/greens. There's a clue.
The south coast? I was inclined to thinking that you were in the Cotswolds..
Dec 13th 2006, 7:46 pm
#64
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Best wishes for an answer to your other post.[/QUOTE]
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dec 13th 2006, 7:49 pm
#65
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Isla Cristina
Posts: 13
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by mikelincs
Christmas in Spain is, for the Spanish, a religious occasion, and there aren't the presents etc we associate with Christmas in the UK, The main Spanish celebration is Tres Santos, on the 6th January, when there are parades in most towns. The Christmas celebrations are based round the church and the 'belen' or nativity scene that towns have, the one in Torrevieja occupies about 1/3 of the town square, and is a walk round thing, showing scenes from the bible interspersed with local scenes. It is already being built and takes many hours of work, currently hidden behind screens but will be unveiled at the beginning of December and stays till the day after Tres Santos, or as we know it, 12th night. In areas with many Expats, there are more houses being decorated with Santa Claus and reindeer in lights, but nowhere near on the scale of the UK... yet..... You can get Spanish Christmas cards, but they also sell specific cards for Tres Santos. Bank holidays are Christmas day, New Years day and 6th January, and I seem to recall there is another in early January as well, but can't remember the date. Boxing day is NOT a holiday.
For a long time now, children recieve presents on Christmas Eve (not day) but it depends on the parents. As school stops around the 22nd and begins again almost immediately after Reyes {meaning Kings} (the far more common name for Epiphany/12th Night that the previous poster refers to as Tres Santos) together with the plethora of films and TV shows from overseas (mainly USA) that show Santa & kids celebrating the 25th means that parents prefer to give presents for Xmas, holding some back for Reyes. The reasoning being that if the kids are going to be away from school for two and a half weeks, they may as well enjoy their gifts. If they give them their gifts on the 6th and the Kids are back in school for the 8th, they have no time to enjoy the presents. They still give on Reyes so as not to lose the tradition but every year the focus shifts more towards the 25th. Check out the cities - totally geared for Xmas, almost like Reyes is an afterthought. Santa now shares equal space with the three kings in many "grottos".
Christmas Eve is a far bigger family celebration than Reyes. Although not an official holiday like the 25th, everywhere begins shutting its doors from about four onwards and you will be hard pushed to find ANYTHING open around eight. The family must be seated around the table by 21.00 for the Kings speech after which families normally tuck into their multi-course meal. Traditional things - depending on area and family - are Prawns and Ham and other canopes to start with Suckling Lamb a major favourite (wherever you are in Spain it is best to order in advance from your butcher as demand is high), lesser favourite is the cochinillo (suckling pig) the original poster mentioned. Game birds can be popular but generally if you don't go with the lamb, fish is normally served. All dishes are accompanied by a sort of roast potato (nothing like what the Brits are used to) which is either pototoes sliced and roasted in stock or very small rounded potatoes again roasted in stock.
Curiously over the last 5-10 years or so, supermarkets have been stocking Turkeys although I know of very few people who have tried it at christmas.
Each year I'm lumbered with cooking two sets of Xmas dinners as my family (in-laws and all) have acquired a taste for the traditional British Roast - they've even asked for it in blooming August FFS!!!!! They love Roasties, sausage meat stuffing and Gravy. So after slaving away on Christmas Eve to get the Spanish meal done (thankfully we alternate every year) I then have to do the Brit one on Xmas day (no alternating
)After the Christmas Eve meal winds down, it is party time for the "younger" ones as the bars and discos open up again around 1.30-2.00.
Xmas Day is for nursing hangovers - basically it is very similar to our Boxing day. Many shops will open up - the type that always open sundays etc..., and most bars will be open but a lot won't open until the afternoon. By 16.00, almost everything is like any other Sunday and life returns to normal.
New Years Eve is a repeat of Christmas Eve more or less - if you had Lamb on CE then you have fish now and vice versa. You must eat 12 grapes in time to the 12 chimes of midnight or you don't have any luck in the new year. Then From about 1.00 until you drop, it is party time and the town/city is as busy as it is in the middle of the day.
On the 5th Jan - Reyes Eve for want of a better phrase - there is usually a parade through the town where the kings throw loads of sweets to the crowd. Canny souls have been known to come with umbrellas so they can catch more!!!!
The 6th itself, unless you have young children is very much a non-event. After the excesses of Christmas and New Year, people just don't have the energy. There is a meal for the family, but it is not as obligatory as the Christmas and New Year ones. Many couples use it as an excuse to visit the family you didn't spend time with at Xmas. With my family in the UK it is never an issue for us.
The supermarkets are full of Xmas trees now and you can even buy the real ones but I don't recommend it. From the stories I've heard they don't retain the pines for very long.
Dec 13th 2006, 7:57 pm
#66
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
The supermarkets are full of Xmas trees now and you can even buy the real ones but I don't recommend it. From the stories I've heard they don't retain the pines for very long.[/QUOTE]
Last year I bought a real one from a garden centre, approx 6ft for 10euros. The bottom of the tree was set in yeso which I found quite strange but the tree lasted for weeks, we even put it outside after 12th night and it was still going strong - maybe I was just lucky?
Last year I bought a real one from a garden centre, approx 6ft for 10euros. The bottom of the tree was set in yeso which I found quite strange but the tree lasted for weeks, we even put it outside after 12th night and it was still going strong - maybe I was just lucky?
Dec 13th 2006, 8:08 pm
#67
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Isla Cristina
Posts: 13
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by 5358tracey
The supermarkets are full of Xmas trees now and you can even buy the real ones but I don't recommend it. From the stories I've heard they don't retain the pines for very long.
[/QUOTE]I've never taken one here but know people who have and they have complained that it doesn't last long. However, as with all things that don't initially work well, maybe they have learnt from mistakes and are treating them now to make them last longer. However, I like my artificial one - it's very effective when it is up and you don't realise it is not real, unless you count the lack of pine smell. Should really buy some airwick Pine fresheners to pu underneath this year
Dec 14th 2006, 7:58 am
#68
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 171
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Thanks Guardiana for that account which I totally agree with. I´ve been itching to correct a lot of posters and holding my tongue
Dec 14th 2006, 2:38 pm
#69
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Billinge Wigan
Posts: 238
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by Spanish young
Hello Helen. I´m a Spaniard living in southern Spain (Granada, Andalusia if you want to search on a map). The Christmast begin in Spain with the national lottery of Christmast (december the 22nd), this a tradition for the adults and every body buy a ticket of the lottery for family with the christmast presents. December 24th is christmas eve and we have a family dinner joint together with different dishes (it depends on the region where you wanna live in Spain) and turrón etc, now a days we have papa noel/santas presents but not all the people do it (it´s a foreing costume, not ours). December 25th we get up so late we have a breakfast of chocolate with "churros" , in Catalonia the dinner of the 24th they celebrate on 25th. December 31 , another dinner with family but... sometimes with friends and could be a party even. This day the costume is only to have 12 grapes with the 12 tones of the bell of Puerta del Sol Clock in Madrid for finishing the year and wellcome the new one.January 1st, well jajajaaj once again we get up so late and once... chocolate with churros but in the street, there are some bars and pubs open early in the morning for serving it. January 5th Reyes Magos eve day , we have parades in all cities and towns and villages with sweets and sweets (paid by the councils, but tradition is tradition) all in the streets. That night you need to clean your shoes and leave some turrón and milk and water for the Reyes Magos (three kings of orient) and there camels. Is the moment for the parents put the presents for the family and the children. January 6th guauuuuuuuuu!!!!!!! day of presents in the morning. If you were good the kings take you a lot of presents if you were bad only coil (sweet coil you can buy on sweets shops) and with that ends the christmas in Spain.
Decoration: tipically we put the Belen,is a reconstruction of bethlehem town in biblical times with jesus , mary and joseph but we have christmast tree too (another foreing tradition).
Decoration: tipically we put the Belen,is a reconstruction of bethlehem town in biblical times with jesus , mary and joseph but we have christmast tree too (another foreing tradition).
Thanks for your reply, yes I know Granada very well beautiful city I think it
would be lovely at christmas time, would like to be there if I could get time off work. I wish my Spanish was as good as your English. I look forward to future Christmas's is Spain.
Have a nice Christmas
Helen
p.s. moderators's why don't you have some christmas icons?
Dec 15th 2006, 7:59 am
#70
Welsh Ambassador to Spain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,741
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by The Guardiana
This is a very muddled version of what actually happens. It is very commercial here and not as religious as has been suggested. For a supposedly religious country, very few actually attend church. 97 % of the population is catholic but a fraction of that actually go to church regularly. It is a hang up many have from "the old days" when the church was closely related to the old regime. If I had to choose between the words "commercial" and "Religious" for what a Spanish Christmas is like, I certainly wouldn't choose the latter. To be fair, the former is true but nowhere near the level of the UK. In most towns Xmas doesn't arrive until beginning of December but the cities get ready a few weeks earlier.
For a long time now, children recieve presents on Christmas Eve (not day) but it depends on the parents. As school stops around the 22nd and begins again almost immediately after Reyes {meaning Kings} (the far more common name for Epiphany/12th Night that the previous poster refers to as Tres Santos) together with the plethora of films and TV shows from overseas (mainly USA) that show Santa & kids celebrating the 25th means that parents prefer to give presents for Xmas, holding some back for Reyes. The reasoning being that if the kids are going to be away from school for two and a half weeks, they may as well enjoy their gifts. If they give them their gifts on the 6th and the Kids are back in school for the 8th, they have no time to enjoy the presents. They still give on Reyes so as not to lose the tradition but every year the focus shifts more towards the 25th. Check out the cities - totally geared for Xmas, almost like Reyes is an afterthought. Santa now shares equal space with the three kings in many "grottos".
Christmas Eve is a far bigger family celebration than Reyes. Although not an official holiday like the 25th, everywhere begins shutting its doors from about four onwards and you will be hard pushed to find ANYTHING open around eight. The family must be seated around the table by 21.00 for the Kings speech after which families normally tuck into their multi-course meal. Traditional things - depending on area and family - are Prawns and Ham and other canopes to start with Suckling Lamb a major favourite (wherever you are in Spain it is best to order in advance from your butcher as demand is high), lesser favourite is the cochinillo (suckling pig) the original poster mentioned. Game birds can be popular but generally if you don't go with the lamb, fish is normally served. All dishes are accompanied by a sort of roast potato (nothing like what the Brits are used to) which is either pototoes sliced and roasted in stock or very small rounded potatoes again roasted in stock.
Curiously over the last 5-10 years or so, supermarkets have been stocking Turkeys although I know of very few people who have tried it at christmas.
Each year I'm lumbered with cooking two sets of Xmas dinners as my family (in-laws and all) have acquired a taste for the traditional British Roast - they've even asked for it in blooming August FFS!!!!! They love Roasties, sausage meat stuffing and Gravy. So after slaving away on Christmas Eve to get the Spanish meal done (thankfully we alternate every year) I then have to do the Brit one on Xmas day (no alternating )
After the Christmas Eve meal winds down, it is party time for the "younger" ones as the bars and discos open up again around 1.30-2.00.
Xmas Day is for nursing hangovers - basically it is very similar to our Boxing day. Many shops will open up - the type that always open sundays etc..., and most bars will be open but a lot won't open until the afternoon. By 16.00, almost everything is like any other Sunday and life returns to normal.
New Years Eve is a repeat of Christmas Eve more or less - if you had Lamb on CE then you have fish now and vice versa. You must eat 12 grapes in time to the 12 chimes of midnight or you don't have any luck in the new year. Then From about 1.00 until you drop, it is party time and the town/city is as busy as it is in the middle of the day.
On the 5th Jan - Reyes Eve for want of a better phrase - there is usually a parade through the town where the kings throw loads of sweets to the crowd. Canny souls have been known to come with umbrellas so they can catch more!!!!
The 6th itself, unless you have young children is very much a non-event. After the excesses of Christmas and New Year, people just don't have the energy. There is a meal for the family, but it is not as obligatory as the Christmas and New Year ones. Many couples use it as an excuse to visit the family you didn't spend time with at Xmas. With my family in the UK it is never an issue for us.
The supermarkets are full of Xmas trees now and you can even buy the real ones but I don't recommend it. From the stories I've heard they don't retain the pines for very long.
For a long time now, children recieve presents on Christmas Eve (not day) but it depends on the parents. As school stops around the 22nd and begins again almost immediately after Reyes {meaning Kings} (the far more common name for Epiphany/12th Night that the previous poster refers to as Tres Santos) together with the plethora of films and TV shows from overseas (mainly USA) that show Santa & kids celebrating the 25th means that parents prefer to give presents for Xmas, holding some back for Reyes. The reasoning being that if the kids are going to be away from school for two and a half weeks, they may as well enjoy their gifts. If they give them their gifts on the 6th and the Kids are back in school for the 8th, they have no time to enjoy the presents. They still give on Reyes so as not to lose the tradition but every year the focus shifts more towards the 25th. Check out the cities - totally geared for Xmas, almost like Reyes is an afterthought. Santa now shares equal space with the three kings in many "grottos".
Christmas Eve is a far bigger family celebration than Reyes. Although not an official holiday like the 25th, everywhere begins shutting its doors from about four onwards and you will be hard pushed to find ANYTHING open around eight. The family must be seated around the table by 21.00 for the Kings speech after which families normally tuck into their multi-course meal. Traditional things - depending on area and family - are Prawns and Ham and other canopes to start with Suckling Lamb a major favourite (wherever you are in Spain it is best to order in advance from your butcher as demand is high), lesser favourite is the cochinillo (suckling pig) the original poster mentioned. Game birds can be popular but generally if you don't go with the lamb, fish is normally served. All dishes are accompanied by a sort of roast potato (nothing like what the Brits are used to) which is either pototoes sliced and roasted in stock or very small rounded potatoes again roasted in stock.
Curiously over the last 5-10 years or so, supermarkets have been stocking Turkeys although I know of very few people who have tried it at christmas.
Each year I'm lumbered with cooking two sets of Xmas dinners as my family (in-laws and all) have acquired a taste for the traditional British Roast - they've even asked for it in blooming August FFS!!!!! They love Roasties, sausage meat stuffing and Gravy. So after slaving away on Christmas Eve to get the Spanish meal done (thankfully we alternate every year) I then have to do the Brit one on Xmas day (no alternating
)After the Christmas Eve meal winds down, it is party time for the "younger" ones as the bars and discos open up again around 1.30-2.00.
Xmas Day is for nursing hangovers - basically it is very similar to our Boxing day. Many shops will open up - the type that always open sundays etc..., and most bars will be open but a lot won't open until the afternoon. By 16.00, almost everything is like any other Sunday and life returns to normal.
New Years Eve is a repeat of Christmas Eve more or less - if you had Lamb on CE then you have fish now and vice versa. You must eat 12 grapes in time to the 12 chimes of midnight or you don't have any luck in the new year. Then From about 1.00 until you drop, it is party time and the town/city is as busy as it is in the middle of the day.
On the 5th Jan - Reyes Eve for want of a better phrase - there is usually a parade through the town where the kings throw loads of sweets to the crowd. Canny souls have been known to come with umbrellas so they can catch more!!!!
The 6th itself, unless you have young children is very much a non-event. After the excesses of Christmas and New Year, people just don't have the energy. There is a meal for the family, but it is not as obligatory as the Christmas and New Year ones. Many couples use it as an excuse to visit the family you didn't spend time with at Xmas. With my family in the UK it is never an issue for us.
The supermarkets are full of Xmas trees now and you can even buy the real ones but I don't recommend it. From the stories I've heard they don't retain the pines for very long.
Thanks Guadiana. I agree with Lis48. All over the board there's a lot of nonsense spouted portayed as fact. Like Lis, I've held my tongue so both of you have spurred me into posting for first time.
One thing you didn't mention in your xmas description was the xmas works parties. Today (suppose a bit like Britain) is the busiest day and trying to get a taxi tonight in Madrid is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Never understood it really but it seems that every compnay in Madrid wants to have their party on the Friday around the 15th. You'd think that some might decide to choose a different night
Pain for me as I have to travel 700km just to get there. Thankfully Ryanair recently started cheap flights so don't have to drive.
Another thing I've noticed similar to Britain is the ever-increasing amount of gaudy xmas decorations. AND they come out earlier each year. Loads of places in my town had their decorations out by Dec 1st. And EVERYONE seems to have those "comical" (ahem!) Santas climbing up their balcony.
Totally agree - the word commercial is more apt than religious!
Dec 15th 2006, 2:59 pm
#71
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by Fortaleza
Thanks Guadiana. I agree with Lis48. All over the board there's a lot of nonsense spouted portayed as fact. Like Lis, I've held my tongue so both of you have spurred me into posting for first time.
One thing you didn't mention in your xmas description was the xmas works parties. Today (suppose a bit like Britain) is the busiest day and trying to get a taxi tonight in Madrid is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Never understood it really but it seems that every compnay in Madrid wants to have their party on the Friday around the 15th. You'd think that some might decide to choose a different night
Pain for me as I have to travel 700km just to get there. Thankfully Ryanair recently started cheap flights so don't have to drive.
Another thing I've noticed similar to Britain is the ever-increasing amount of gaudy xmas decorations. AND they come out earlier each year. Loads of places in my town had their decorations out by Dec 1st. And EVERYONE seems to have those "comical" (ahem!) Santas climbing up their balcony.
Totally agree - the word commercial is more apt than religious!
One thing you didn't mention in your xmas description was the xmas works parties. Today (suppose a bit like Britain) is the busiest day and trying to get a taxi tonight in Madrid is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Never understood it really but it seems that every compnay in Madrid wants to have their party on the Friday around the 15th. You'd think that some might decide to choose a different night
Pain for me as I have to travel 700km just to get there. Thankfully Ryanair recently started cheap flights so don't have to drive.
Another thing I've noticed similar to Britain is the ever-increasing amount of gaudy xmas decorations. AND they come out earlier each year. Loads of places in my town had their decorations out by Dec 1st. And EVERYONE seems to have those "comical" (ahem!) Santas climbing up their balcony.
Totally agree - the word commercial is more apt than religious!
Must be a good party if you travel 700k to it
I look forward to reading actual facts now, rather than a lot of nonsense spouted portayed as fact.
Perhaps you could enlighten me on this ?
Dec 15th 2006, 3:09 pm
#72
has got a huge member
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Jerez de la Frontera
Posts: 1,656
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by Fortaleza
And EVERYONE seems to have those "comical" (ahem!) Santas climbing up their balcony.
Dec 15th 2006, 3:19 pm
#73
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by keithwalters
Ah yes, those! Could anyone reading this forum that has one of these Santas climbing up the balcony PLEASE remove them IMMEDIATELY! Otherwise we will have to call the police and report a crime against good taste.
Dec 15th 2006, 5:32 pm
#74
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,377
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Hey, no need to get your red knickers in a TWIST over Christmas. Is anyone writing an essay about it?
Re: shortage of taxis at this festive time.
Maybe this is because fewer taxi drivers want people (not directed at anyone specifically) vomiting in their cabs?
Re: climbing Santas.
A child fell from his/her 5th floor balcony trying to rescue it.
How about some cheerful news?
Re: shortage of taxis at this festive time.
Maybe this is because fewer taxi drivers want people (not directed at anyone specifically) vomiting in their cabs?
Re: climbing Santas.
A child fell from his/her 5th floor balcony trying to rescue it.
How about some cheerful news?
Dec 15th 2006, 6:26 pm
#75
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: UK/Costa Luz
Posts: 399
Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
Originally Posted by Carol&John
How about some cheerful news?