The unofficial starting date of the Christmas season in Spain is December the 22nd, when the numbers of the Lotería de Navidad are announced. This lottery is probably the most followed lottery during the entire year. Nearly everybody in Spain buys tickets in hope of winning El Gordo, the big jackpot.
At the 24th of December Spaniards celebrate Christmas Eve called Nochebuena, where the family gathers around the table and enjoys dinner together. A typical meal for Nochebuena would be roasted lamb. After the main dish, Spaniards love to eat a candy called Turrón, which resembles nougat, made from almonds and honey. In the last few decades, another tradition, which is not typical Spanish, reached the Spanish households: Santa Claus, who is called Papá Noel.
In the morning of the 25th of December, it can be customary that Spanish children receive gifts from Papá Noel, but the typical day to receive presents in Spain is the Day of the Epiphany in January, when the Three Kings (Reyes Magos) bring gifts.
While Nochebuena is a family celebration, New Year’s eve called Nochevieja is a time for partying with friends. At the 31st of December, when the clock strikes twelve, it is the tradition to eat 12 grapes, one on each stroke of the clock to bring luck for new year.
Other than in most countries in Europe, the peak of the Christmas season takes place in January, when the three kings, called Reyes Magos bring their gifts. On the afternoon and evening of January the 5th, there are parades of the Reyes Magos in every city throughout Spain. These parades represent the journey of the three kings, following the star to the stable in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
On the 5th January, the kids must go to bed early, because the Reyes Magos pass by to drop presents during the night. So on the next morning, the children wake up early to play with their new toys. On January the 6th the Spanish people celebrate the Day of the Epiphany, when the Reyes Magos brought gifts to baby Jesus. This is also a public holiday and everybody eats the Roscón de Reyes, a traditional cake. These cakes are often filled with whipped cream and have hidden surprises in it: a bean or a small king. Whoever gets the slice of the cake with the small king is the ‘king’ of the banquet. This person will have good luck for the rest of the year. The other person, who finds the bean has to buy the Roscón de Reyes for the next year!
If you have the chance to come to Spain during this beautiful time of the year, grab this opportunity, it’s definitely worth it!
