CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN 1

CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN

Christmas in Spain is unlike Christmas in the United States.  The Christmas season runs much longer.  While in the United States it ends on Christmas Day, in Spain it continues to January 6th, Three Kings Day.  There are many activities that go on during this time including, Christmas Eve (called Nochebuena), Christmas Day, New Years Eve (called Nochevieja) and the anticipation of the arrival of the Three Kings on January 6th.  Also during this time is a very important lottery called "El Gordo" along with many other activities.

Because Spain has a strong religious history, Christmas is a more holy day than in the United States.  Some gifts may be given, but mostly it is a time to spend with family. While Santa Claus is known in Spain, he is not as important.  In fact in some places children are told that if they are bad Santa Claus will come and take them away.

The day that gifts are given is on Three Kings Day (el día de Reyes).  This is keeping with the religious tradition that this was the day that the Three Kings (Los Tres Reyes Magos) arrived bearing gifts.   Please read the sections below to learn more about Christmas in Spain.

Belén

Un belén is a nativity scene.  In Spanish the name for Bethlehem is Belén with a capital "B".  Bethlehem is said to be the birthplace of Jesus.  Nativities are very popular in Spain.  Many homes will have one.   In some towns there may be very elaborate nativities in the town square.  In some towns they depict not only the scene in the manger, but also scenes leading up to and after the birth of Jesus. In some towns they use real actors.  One town in Spain shows 25 different scenes and uses 180 actors!  People walk throughout the town visiting the different scenes.  They have become very popular tourist attractions.    It is very common in a nativity scene that shows the manger to have stream or brook.  And in addition to the traditional animals shown at the manger, such as pigs, sheep and donkeys, you might also see that symbol of Spain, the bull.