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A magical time of year… THE Christmas season in Spain is a particularly magical affair. Anyone who has yet to get into the spirit will be swept away with the national lottery emotional advert, the Christmas lights put up by the end of November and the festive atmosphere of the streets. On December 22 the National Lottery draw is held. It marks the beginning of the holidays for schoolchildren and millions of Spaniards tune in to watch it, in the hope of winning ‘El gordo’ (The Fat One), the biggest national lottery in the world. Religion plays a crucial part in Spanish Christmas, with nativity scenes - often lifesized - found in streets, public buildings and homes all around the country. Typical Christmas carols are sung, often with a touch of flamenco, and instruments such as tambourines and bottles of anis, used to tap a beat on, are a must if you want to celebrate the Spanish way.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Are now switched on. The main meal takes place on Christmas Eve, the Nochebuena, and it usually consists of a main dish of meat or seafood. Preferred dessert is turron, the typical Christmas sweet made with honey, sugar and often nuts or almonds. Many Spaniards attend the Misa del Gallo (literally, the Rooster’s Mass), a church service held at midnight on Christmas Eve. It is named as such because a legend says that a rooster was the first living thing to document the birth of Jesus with its crowing. The King traditionally gives a speech
THREE WISE MEN: Bring gifts to Spanish children. on Christmas Eve, an especially significant date this year as it will be the first time for the new King, Felipe VI. Christmas Day is spent at home, when Spanish families gather around to continue eating, often the leftovers from the previous day. The big day for celebrating is New Year’s Eve, or Fin de Año, when thousands of young people wear their best suits and gowns (or, in some places, dress up in costumes) and hit the streets,
but not before eating each and every ‘lucky grape’ that mark the 12 last seconds of the year. The following day is also a public holiday, and can be spent sleeping the hangover away. The Three Wise Men are in charge of bringing the gifts to Spanish children on January 6. They are reminded throughout the year to behave properly, or else they will receive coal made from sugar instead of presents.