Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Can anyone tell me the main differences between Christmas in Spain and Uk good and bad and what you miss about the UK. Is it as good for the children I have two girls 1 and 5 and pending house sale will be coming to Spain next year.
Also what do the Spanish eat for Christmas Dinner is it Pork? (correct me if I am wrong)

;)

Helen

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

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.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Every area of Spain eats different food that day. In my family - someplace North by the sea - we eat seafood, oysters and sea bream (besugo) and drink cider. But it seems that probably every Spanish family eats turrón (almonds and honey from Alicante, mostly).

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Sounds very pretty it seems that the Spanish have not forgot what Christmas is meant to be about.

Helen

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

We are looking forward to celebrating 2 Christmas next year as my mother will visit and stay for 1 month and our sons will join us for the Spanish Christmas. In the area we are going to fish is eaten but poultry as well. The Jamon from Jambugo also popular . We aim to blend all these with M@S Christmas cake and pud.

I think being able to take options from both celebrations should be fun.

Sue

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Do the Spanish do Christmas trees?

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

We have been invited to spend our first christmas in Spain with a Spainish family, we are invited Christmas eve and New Years eve. and they do have Christmas trees and lights, the same as the UK.
From what I understand they eat meat, ham and different food and lots of drink. On New Years eve on the stroke of midnight we eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes 12 and then we retire to the Village and drink and party till the early hours.
And then we do it all again on the three kings.
I cant wait.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Not sure about 'real' ones, but there were plenty of artificial ones on sale in Carrefour last year, all sizes you could want.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Look forward to our hopefully first Christmas in Spain next year I think the children will enjoy it just as much as here.

Helen

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Thought Christmas trees were more of a Victorian thing borrowed from Scandinavians via Bavaria.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

our kids enjoy it more here I think.....they can actually use new bikes or skates cos the weather's good!

we usually open our pressies, have a late breakfast then meet friends in a tapas bar by the beach for drinks while the turkey is slowly cooking. Back home for the blow out when it gets chilly - about 4.30ish!

Christmas also seems to be more special......the kids are at school this year til the 23rd..........so it's not a really long holiday


then the big celebration is 3 Kings on the night of the 5th........a procession through town then every child in town gets a gift from the Kings

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

This will be our 3rd Christmas here, I have noticed from the first year here,
to now, a great increase in christmas items tree's,tinsel,etc etc
which is fine I suppose,as long as they don't start putting them out on the shelves in September !!
Don't you feel they ram the whole christmas thing down your neck back in the U.K ?

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

absolutely.......our first christmas here.......this is our 4th.......you couldn't get cards, decs, anything til halfway through December........which is fine by me

now you can get things in about November, and there is a lot more choice.....and so far, they're not appearing too early

except, of course in the English shops!

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

My eldest child would love all that gifts etc We have heard there is a festival where they burst open a pretend bull and all sweets come out when is this ? Telling my children about all of these things makes it easier to make the transition to Spain.

Helen

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

that sounds like one we have here in late August/ early September just before they go back to school........can't remember what it's called :o there are so very many of them!

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Christmas really isn't the same as Britain - it lacks the atmosphere, mainly down to the weather I think - on the very positive side the lack of consumerism and materialism is a joy.

Mark

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Hi,
Would this be a pinata (tilde above the letter "N")? When I was younger, we had birthday parties with pinatas - sometimes fancy, papier-mache donkeys stuffed with sweets, or a terracotta pot filled with sweets. Each child would have a turn to be blindfolded, turned around slowly and, holding on to a long stick, take a swipe at the hanging pinata. Sometimes it was better not to be the one blind-folded, because you could dive into the fallen sweets that much faster! :D Has this party game been banned?
Regards,
Carol
P.S. If there is a festival with a pretend bull, I'm guessing San Fermin?

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Yes it is the piñata, but this is a Mexican thing, not spanish. I think it is for the Day of the Dead, but maybe also birthdays or Christmas.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

In preparation for the Three Kings procession:
http://www.huelvainformacion.es/imag...asriotinto.jpg
Regards,
Carol

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

It's warmer, duh. :p

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

You obviously live on the coast where it is warmer but inland it can get very cold and snow is common.

Helen

:rolleyes:

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Like Wigan.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Very true

:D

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Xmas go on longer in Spain and they are all about drinking, eating and spending time with family and friends. Presents are mainly for the little ones, and as we grow older they are not important..

We celebrate the 24th with a big dinner, the 25th with a big lunch, the 31st with a big dinner (then wait until midnight to start the year eating 12 grapes watching the clock from the "Puerta del Sol" in Madrid on TV, or go to your city/town's main square with your grapes and have them there) after midnight we get ready and go out, usually at @1am, the 1st with a big lunch.. the 5th of Jan with a big dinner and the 6th of Jan with a big lunch. Drinking vast amounts of wine and champagne (cava) is in order during all these lunches and dinners and most people go out to the pub just before dinner/lunch to have yet some some champagne with friends/relatives.. All of these might sound really outrageous but I promise it's very accurate.. Dinner time is 10pm and lunch time is 3pm..

Some people have Santa (Papa Noel) coming on xmas eve.. but most people only give presents on the 6th of Jan.. when the 3 kings come (Epiphany). As you have children you need to remember that there are always parades (in every town and city) on the 5th of Jan in the evening.. where your children will get to see the 3 kings and they will get sweeties (the sweeties will be thrown at them by the kings from their carriages.. ;) they'll love this..

The 26th is a normal working day is Spain.. now, can somebody explain to me why it's called "Boxing day" in the UK? is it something to do with boxing the sport? or putting away boxes from the presents the day before? :confused: after spending 11 years in the UK I never found anyone that gave me a definite answer about this..

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Very good question!! I don't think you will ever get a definite answer. Just take a look at what wikipedia says:

There are disparate theories as to the origins of the term. The more common stories include:

...In feudal times, Christmas was a reason for a gathering of extended families. All the serfs would gather their families in the manor of their lord, which made it easier for the lord of the estate to hand out annual stipends to the serfs. After all the Christmas parties on December 26th, the lord of the estate would give practical goods such as cloth, grains, and tools to the serfs who lived on his land. Each family would get a box full of such goods the day after Christmas. Under this explanation, there was nothing voluntary about this transaction; the lord of the manor was obliged to supply these goods. Because of the boxes being given out, the day was called Boxing Day.

...In Britain many years ago, it was common practice for the servants to carry boxes to their employers when they arrived for their day's work on the day after Christmas. Their employers would then put coins in the boxes as special end-of-year gifts. This can be compared with the modern day concept of Christmas bonuses. The servants carried boxes for the coins, hence the name Boxing Day.

...In churches, it was traditional to open the church's donation box on Christmas Day, and the money in the donation box was to be distributed to the poorer or lower class citizens on the next day. In this case, the "box" in "Boxing Day" comes from that one gigantic lockbox in which the donations were left.

...In Britain because many servants had to work for their employers on Christmas Day they would instead open their presents (i.e., boxes) the next day, which therefore became known as Boxing Day.
Boxing Day was the day when the wren, the king of birds, was captured and put in a box and introduced to each household in the village when he would be asked for a successful year and a good harvest. See Frazer's Golden Bough.

...Evidence can also be found in Wassail songs such as:
Where are you going ? said Milder to Malder,
Oh where are you going ? said Fessel to Foe,
I'm going to hunt the cutty wren said Milder to Malder,
I'm going to hunt the cutty wren said John the Rednose.
And what will you do wi' it ? said Milder to Malder,
And what will you do wi' it ? said Fessel to Foe,
I'll put it in a box said Milder to Malder,
I'll put it in a box said John the Rednose.
etc.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Have a look here

http://www.didyouknow.cd/xmas/boxingday.htm

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

I particularly like the idea of all the drink consumed yes just up my street.

Helen

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

I see the Daily Mail, last Saturday, did an excellant full page article on Christmas in Spain, mentioning most of the things that have been said here. :D

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

our kings arrive by boat from the sea and parade through town on horseback, with their helpers throwing sweets to the kids

then all the kids form a huge queue up to a stage where the kings are giving out pressies - they all get to have a chat with a king & a pressie - all free

it's a bloody nightmare & takes ages but I wouldn't dream of not staying for it - the kids would kill me!


Boxing Day.....I was told at school it's because Queen Victoria used to gve her servants their gifts (in boxes) the day after christmas

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

I bet your kids love that! I lived inland so the Kings couldn't come by boat.. :rolleyes:

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

How is hubby? We haven't had an update from you for a while. I assume he is just on a diet at the moment.. ?

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Hi,
So when do children leave their shoes (to be filled with sweets/presents)outside their bedroom? Dec 5th, 25th, or Epiphany? :confused:
Carol

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

You know.. most people do both..

Santa is on Xmas Eve so parents tend to give the kids presents and tell them that Santa brought them..

Kids leave their shoes out with sweets on the 5th.. usually by the nativity or Xmas tree..

Kids go back to school on the 8th of Jan so parents tend to give them toys and things they can play with on Xmas Eve and the "less interesting" stuff like clothes and so on Epiphany.. this way they get to play with their toys all over Xmas..

Having said this it is obviously up to you what you do..

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Hola Anabella,
I asked because just today someone at work had mentioned children celebrating the feast day of St Nicholas, and leaving their shoes out! They were talking about a northern european country (Holland?), and I think the 5th December was an important date. Then, I got to thinking about Spain and remembered the connection with the shoes!! Yes, confusing! :)
Regards,
Carol

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

You are right, St Nicolas is in Holland today.. I find that confusing too..

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

Not that confusing as St Nicholas is the basis of Santa Claus, but it's just the dates are different, some European countries celebrate on the 6th Dec, many on the 25th, and some on the 6th January, Spain and Russia to name two for the 6th Jan. I really suspect that given the numbers of people moving around and relocation in EU countries, then people add the celebrations to their own, so those that celebrate the 6th Dec and 6th Jan also celebrate the 25th Dec, and the kids get two or three lots of presents, also the card sellers can see a new market opening up.

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

I am sure the kids would be the last to moan if they got three lots of goodies :D

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

:) .. any reason is good to celebrate..

I celebrate everything Spanish, English and American.. lucky me.. ;)

Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

That`s being greedy ;) ;)




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Re: Differences between Christmas in Spain and UK
 

No, it sounds fun :D