In this presentation we want to show you how we celebrate our Christmas in Spain.

(Christmas Carols)

These songs started to be popular between the XV and XVIII centuries and they were sung by many voices and we are singing them.

We sing it to conmemorate the birth of Jesus Christ in Belen, and we sing them every year.

roasted turkey roasted lamb – ‘langostinos’ - (king prawn) – shrimps – lobster – crab In Spain is also typical to eat soap with ‘Galets’.

‘yema’ - egg-based dessert ‘mantecados’ & ‘polvorones’ - crumbly cakes ‘mazapán’, almond cakes King cake known as ‘roscón de Reyes’ in Spanish and ‘tortell’ in Catalan.

Nativity scenes, christmas lights and christmas trees.

In Spain it is tipical to put in the houses a ‘Belén’ (Nativity scene). A nativity scene is a group of small statues, houses, rivers… representing Christ´s birth and the placed were they live at that time.

We put ligths in houses to make it nicer. At christmas we normally put lights around a Christmas tree but can be put in other places in the house.

The christmas tree was called the tree of life by the germans and they use it to celebrate the birthday of gods. Also our decoration in the tree have a meaning: -The red ornaments mean hope. -The light mean the faith. -The star means god.

Nativity scenes, christmas lights and christmas trees.

The city council set up the Belén (Nativity scene) in the “Pilar” square and is very big, also have real voices. In the entry we have a shop of cotton of sugar, candy apples and hot chocolate. There are two wax roman soldiers in a huge stone door. In addition, we have a lot of stalls of different things, one butcher, one fishmonger, one greengrocer and so on. There is a tree and an Angel on it that tell you the story of the nativity. When you cross a bridge you will see the Three Wise Men following the star that take them along the desert until they arrive to the crib. Melchor brings gold to the child, Gaspar brings incense and Baltasar brings myrrh. In the last part of the nativity are the born of Jesus of Nazareth.

Zaragoza in Christmas is shining from to hours but in the principal days of Christmas the lights shine until midnight. In Zaragoza there are around lamps.

The city council set up the Christmas tree in the street and they decorate it with light bulbs around it. We put a star in the top of the tree representing the travel of the Three Wise Men following the shine star that take them along the desert until they arrive to the crib.

The 22th of December some people buy a special lottery of Christmas called “El Gordo” (the fat). The first draw was celebrated in Cadiz at the 18th of December of 1812, nowadays it is celebrate the 22th of December. It is special because you can win a lot of money in the prize.

Christmas Eve is celebrated on the night of December 24, the day before Christmas (December 25). It is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, and customs vary from one country to another is fairly common for a family reunion dinner and, especially in Protestant countries exchanged gifts.

Is common to hold a family gathering for dinner and, especially in Protestant countries exchanged gifts. In Spain is considered as a cultural festival, and many families atheist also celebrate.

- Is one of the most important Christian holiday becouse they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Belen. - In Spain the Christmas day is a day when the family gets together and makes a special meal.

It is a festivity celebrated (Only in some places of Spain) in the 26th December. This day families meet and they eat canneloni.

It is a celebration that conmemorate the slaughter of the children of Belen. It was executed by the king Herodes I. People of Spain and other countries (another day) make jokes to other people.

Spanish New Year's Eve celebration usually begin with a family dinner, traditionally including shrimp and lamb or “capon” (type of durkey). Spanish tradition says that wearing new, red underwear on New Year's Eve brings good luck.

The last moments of the year is usually followed from the clock on top of the Casa de Correos building in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock. This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in Alicante thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year.

Nowadays, the tradition is followed by almost every Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonymous with the New Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people reet each other and toast with sparkling wine such as cava or champagne, or alternatively with cider.

All the 1st of January, the people, happy because is a new year, go to the houses or restaurants with the family or friends and eat all together.

This is the eve of The Three Wise Men day. All the cities in Spain celebrate wonderful parades with lots of floats in the evening. The floats contains all presents that The Three Wise Men bring for children.

We celebrate that The Three Wise Men arrived to the stable were Jesus was born. At night they bring gifts for the children. This day families spend the day together and they eat a typical dessert called “Roscón de Reyes”, that has a surprise inside it. It always contains a bean. The tradition said that who find it, in the next year paid this dessert.

Melchor: he represents Europe. Baltasar: he represents Africa

Gaspar: He represents Asia