1. December 8 – January 6 The Christmas season in Spain

2. December 8 La Immaculada
Feast of the Immaculate Conception marks the official opening of the Christmas season in Spain
People put up their “belenes” without the 3 kings or the baby Jesus – those characters will be added later.
In Seville, the dance of six performed by boys in traditional costumes.

3. December 21 Las Hogueras en Granada
This date marks the winter solstice (shortest day) and in Granada people build bonfires and jump through them to protect themselves against illness.

4. December 22 La Lotería de la navidad
Custom dating back to 1812
People buy lottery tickets for the national lottery Price = 200 €. You can buy “decimos” (one tenth of a share) for 20 €. More than 157 million tickets are on sale.
The numbers are sung by children from San Ildefonso School in Madrid (previously an orphanage.
Everyone stays close to a TV or radio to hear the number that will award “el gordo” (the winner)

5. December 24 La Nochebuena (The Goodnight)
Two important elements to this night
La misa de gallo (midnight mass)
Large dinner with family after mass (traditional turkey stuffed with mushrooms)
“Esta noche es Nochebuena – y no es noche de dormir”
Also – baby Jesus added to the nativity scenes this evening

6. December 25 La Navidad National holiday (all shops are closed)
Calm day – take a walk, another big dinner with family
Swings are set up in town squares and church yards – children swing in time while Christmas music is played
Children do not traditionally receive gifts, though that is changing. Recently, some small gifts are left by “papa noel”

7. December 26 Boxing Day
Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries. It was started in the UK about 800 years ago in the Middle Ages. It was the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were opened so that the contents could be distributed to poor people. Some churches still open these boxes on Boxing Day.
In Spain, kids write their letters to the three kings telling them what they want for 3 Kings Day (January 6)

8. December 28 Dia de los santos inocentes (April Fools Day)
People play practical jokes on one another.
National media will often include a nonsense story in their broadcasts

9. December 31 La NocheVieja (The old night)
Eat 12 grapes for good luck in the new year
In Madrid people congregate in Puerta del Sol to hear clock chime & eat grapes
Party (funny wigs / masks / fireworks)

10. Video of gonging clock and grapes

11. January 1st El ano nuevo Public holiday – all shops closed
Low-key & quiet

12. January 5 Eve of 3 Kings Day
Processions with floats all over Spain
The 3 Kings will visit children tonight and leave gifts
Children leave shoes out with straw and food for camels & donkey. Also, water often left for the animals.

13. January 6 La epifania (The Epiphany)
Children wake up to gifts from the 3 kings (their favorite king is Baltasar who rides a donkey)
3 kings visit hospitals all over Spain delivering gifts to children
People eat “Rosca de Reyes” – sweet bread in shape of a ring. A plastic toy is buried inside – he who finds it in his piece of bread gets good luck for the year.
3 Kings are added to the belenes today