5358tracey

Ok, I didn't know about the burning it bit - but what a good excuse to get rid of the crass underwear hubbies usually buy!

anabella

I mean that you burn your red knickers.. not ALL your underwear!

5358tracey

I know that - but they don't need to! Just imagine your other half buying you something really distasteful - you could tell them the tradition and get rid of it!

anabella

I always end up throwing them away.. you are not supposed to use them again..

Carol&John

No different from the Christmas stocking hung at the foot of the child's bed. Santa or Father Christmas fills it with a satsuma, pencil, stick of rock/toffee etc. The larger gift awaits under the tree...
Spanish children don't receive larger gifts?

5358tracey

Spanish children don't receive larger gifts? [/QUOTE]

Quite possibly, but I have Spanish locals as friends and they tell me it is totally different from the UK. Uk appears to be very commercialised but Spanish Xmas is more religious. Not so much emphasis on the whole gift thing. Am under the impression that the gift thing is much more important at communions and weddings than xmas. Maybe my village is behind the times?

anabella

Quite possibly, but I have Spanish locals as friends and they tell me it is totally different from the UK. Uk appears to be very commercialised but Spanish Xmas is more religious. Not so much emphasis on the whole gift thing. Am under the impression that the gift thing is much more important at communions and weddings than xmas. Maybe my village is behind the times?[/QUOTE]


It's true that we don't make a big issue of the presents, they are not very important and they are mainly for children.. but Xmas aren't as religious as they used to be either.. However we still make sure that Xmas is a family thing..

I forgot to mention that the price of typical Xmas foods gets ridiculous at Xmas.. not fair really, but the shops take advantage of the fact that we get an extra salary in December..

5358tracey

I have also been told that it is customary to send a hamper to your doctor or your solicitor for example. I don't know if this is true but it sounds like a bribe to me -can't remember if it was my doctor or my solicitor that told me......!!!!!!

anabella

I've never heard that.. it sounds like they would like it to be a tradition..

5358tracey

Well, whatever the differences, I am looking forward immensely to spending my christmas in Spain. Happy christmas to you all!!!

Carol&John

Quite possibly, but I have Spanish locals as friends and they tell me it is totally different from the UK. Uk appears to be very commercialised but Spanish Xmas is more religious. Not so much emphasis on the whole gift thing. Am under the impression that the gift thing is much more important at communions and weddings than xmas. Maybe my village is behind the times?[/QUOTE]

Hi,
Likewise, I could ask if my village here in the UK is behind the times.
We celebrate Christmas with a midnight mass/night watch... Carol singing in the church square...Nativity plays at the schools..."traditional" Christmas dinners served in the schools and elderly day care centres...
New Year's starts with the "Bells" and visiting friends and neighbours, wishing them health and prosperity. The "tall, dark & handsome" man in the group must carry a lump of coal in his pocket (as he enters the home) - for good luck!
Many similarities, yet each country with their own traditions. It is an (adult) individual's decision whether or not to make it so commercialised. After all, Christmas is for the children first.

Carol&John

Merry Christmas to you too!

anabella

Agreed!

Where about in the UK are you? it sounds like a wonderful place

5358tracey

After all, Christmas is for the children first.[/QUOTE]

I agree, but the problem in the uk is all the adverts, expectations etc that the children are constantly bombarded with, also the shops are selling christmas back in September in some cases. It is refreshing in Spain that commercialism hasn't arrived - yet - and that the shops don't start selling christmas until December.

Possibly another thread here- but am I wrong in thinking that christmas should be about families and friends and not about gifts and commercialism? And that so far a spanish christmas is much more christmassy!!!

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. But, I'd be stupid not to know that we have our problems here, like other places.
Spain has many feast days, which are cause for celebration. That may be seen as being religious, but how many people truly understand the story behind it, or care? Another thread, perhaps...
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?