Christmas traditions in Spain

Christmas holidays start on December 22nd, when the national lottery "El Gordo" (The Fat one) is drawn. The lucky ones can win millions of euros. However, decorating the house with the nativity scene and the Christmas tree started much earlier. The big days are of course Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena in Spanish (Goodnight) and it is the most important family gathering of the year. In the evening people often meet early for a few drinks with friends then return home to enjoy a meal with the family. Prawn starters followed by roast lamb would be a typical meal rounded off with a typically Christmas sweet called turrón which is a nougat made of toasted sweet almonds. Another typical festive sweet is called Polvorones which is made from almonds, flour and sugar. Cava, Catalan champagne, would be the chosen drink for the Christmas toast. A special moment takes place at 9 pm when the King of Spain addresses a speech to the citizens. Children may receive a small gift on Nochebuena or on Christmas Day but the day for presents is 6th January, Epiphany, when the Three Kings bring gifts for the children. Christmas Day is a national holiday in Spain so shops are closed yet it is not a day of great celebration but rather a calm day when people go out for a walk, drop into a bar, etc. Another large family meal at lunchtime is common. New Year's Eve is known as NocheVieja. It is a big celebration all over the country with street parties and special nights in hotels and clubs everywhere. Until midnight people tend to stay at home and on the stroke of midnight it is traditional to eat 12 grapes, one on each stroke of the clock to bring good luck for the new year. In Madrid and other main cities revellers congregate in the main square and eat the grapes along with a celebratory bottle of cava then head out into the night until after sunrise. The Cabalgata de Reyes Magos is a parade of typical chariots, in Spanish cities, in which the Magi (Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar) and their pages and helpers throw candy to children. This is celebrated on the afternoon of January 5. During the act, the assistants of the Magi are responsible for distributing the gifts to all people. 6th of January is the Feast of Epiphany. For Spanish children this is the most important day of the year when they wake up to find that Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings/Wise Men) have left gifts for them in their house.