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DE Christmas (La Navidad) in Spain is the most important winter holiday. Preparation for it begins in November. Gradually, city streets are being decorated, Christmas trees are being installed in shops and on the streets. In line with our tradition, it is customary to organize Christmas dinners for friends and colleagues in restaurants long before the official date. Usually these dinners end closer in the morning. And considering that every Spaniard on average attends three such dinners, the entire second half of December is essentially non-working!
The most important traditional attribute of the Catholic Christmas Eve is belen - the layout, symbolizing the picture of the birth of Christ. Henbane can be both small and the size of a man. They adorn churches, shop windows and city squares, which is of great interest to the Spaniards, especially children.
Christmas is definitely celebrated with family. Everyone is welcome, even the most distant relatives. On the festive table, the Christmas turkey with mushrooms will certainly flaunt. Canaries usually bake duck (pato asado), which is slightly different from the general Spanish tradition. The table is also full of sweets: turron, marzipans. According to legend, they bring prosperity and joy. Almost always on the holiday table will be seafood - mussels, shrimp, crabs and lobster.
After dinner, all family members gather around the tree and sing Christmas songs.
An old Spanish verse reads: “This blessed night, and it is not meant for sleeping” (Esta noche es Nochebuena, Y no es noche de dormir).
