Christmas in Spain
Spain is without a doubt the most Catholic country in Europe. Most of the population of Spain is still respected tradition and marks all religious holidays customs.
Christmas for the Spaniards is without a doubt the most important religious holiday. And not only a religious ... Spanish Christmas is the same as for Russians, new year. And is not involved in this holiday does not exist. Most Spaniards are willing to cross thousands of miles in order to spend the day among their relatives and close people.
And though Christmas is a family holiday in Spain, more often than not, this week for two before Christmas, still organised Christmas dinners in restaurants. At one table are work colleagues or friends. Most often these pre-Christmas
dinners are tightened until the morning, and when you consider that the average Spaniard is visited by three
the dinner, the second half of December in
Spain, basically, is not working. In offices instead of work, for the most part all discuss with colleagues the menu Christmas table.
In small firms before Christmas to give employees accepted gifts. For example, "Christmas basket" which is a collection of traditional Christmas foods from the Halva to champagne. In large companies decided to organize a gala dinner for guidance and a buffet for the rest of the staff.
A couple of days before the great feast of Christmas sale starts Christmas lottery tickets. Many Spaniards, buying a lottery ticket, believe that they will fall out of luck this year, and they win el gordo is the big payoff. The peculiarity of this lottery is that the numbers of lottery tickets and get the winning amount and recite these little numbers, and sing.
This is one of the biggest lotteries throughout Europe. Tickets purchased via the Internet. And in the run up to Christmas, December 24 morning all Spain and most of Europe freeze in anticipation of winning at their television screens.
24 December afternoon all the city lights sparkle with illumination, but with all the shops and cafes music sounds. All urban flowerbeds and, of course, terraces of houses decorated with Christmas flowers – these popular red flowers called a Poinsettia. Shops and malls are crowded with people. By the way according to the statistics, about 22% of retail turnover of the country falls on Christmas holidays, with prices in these holidays, for some products, up in 5-6 times. But the Spaniards, these costs do not stop.
The majority of expenditures are for gifts, because they do not give a gift for somebody or good friend is simply indecent.
In addition to the Pan-European Christmas traditions in Spain there are their own unique traditions associated with Christmas.
One of such practices is building such belenov you won't see anywhere else. 
Belen is Christmas scenes and figures that depict the Evangelical scene of Christ's birth-the Holy Family surrounded by shepherds, the three kings who came from the East to worship the baby Jesus and the angels who give God the glory.
These miniatures are on the streets of larger towns and villages, in shop Windows, on squares and in private homes. Among belenov are true works of art.
At Christmas in some Spanish cities in the main squares, you can watch live Belém – the actors, dressed in ancient costumes, depict Biblical scenes of the Birth of the Savior.
Another Spanish old tradition where parents with children gather around Belén and singing villancico (Christmas village songs).
Another great Spanish tradition-on the eve of babes post outside the box funny striped stockings for gifts. Sometimes these čuločkov are true works of art! And those kids who behaved badly in the course of the year, are finding there's fire.
And even on the streets especially for Christmas are huge Christmas swing on which everyone can enjoy. good climate allows you to skate in the winter for Celtic swing!)
No self-respecting Spaniard, as he was busy with all sorts of Christmas chores, don't forget to buy '! Another variety of Spanish sweets, without which there is no holiday table.
There are two kinds of nougat. Blando (soft type)-the taste resembles nougat. And Duro (hard)-similar to our kazinaki. There are various kinds of nougat: Turron de Almendra-almond, Turron de Cacauete-peanut, Turron de Avellana-fried hazelnuts. And there are ' fruit, coconut and chocolate.
Each province is famed for its nougat variety. But, experts and amateurs of the sweets, they say that the best ' produced in Alicante (Costa Blanca North Coast).
Inside the festive kalacha always have surprise-belongs to the seed and a small earthenware figurine. Who goes to fasolina, who pays and who gets roscon any other figurine, made in the coming year will be luck. almonds and colored candied fruit (candied fruits) that simulate precious stones. Roscon can with cream or chocolate filling.
All the stores will appear of the Christmas products. It is primarily a sweets-sweets hanging from the trees, anise flavoured candies and Halva. At the usual time of year to buy them is virtually impossible, and not accepted.
On Christmas day, as we have for the new year, in a wealth of delicious dishes. And the new year in Spain serves mostly snacks, such as melon with Jamón (ham) and Carabineros the hot. Christmas dishes Spaniards include cakes with different fillings, anise flavoured candies, almond cakes, cakes with cumin, turron (Spanish sweetness), Marzipan, khalwa and grapes. In addition to sweet dishes on the table will be necessarily Jamon, and a huge variety of seafood-shrimp, crabs, lobster, fish and other exotic species. And of course a good Spanish wine or Cava (sparkling wine).
And for 3:0 before Christmas Eve Street chaos and General festive excitement dies down throughout the country. Close to all the shops and supermarkets in the morning. Virtually no cars on the streets, and people. In busy cities becomes unusually quiet.
Some families, of ancient Catholic tradition, invite this evening for my table of single elderly or just poor people. There are even such houses, where invited for their holiday table of homeless people.
Promptly at 9 pm on all TV channels broadcast the appeal by head of State King Juan Carlos to the inhabitants of Spain with the traditional Christmas message, containing an assessment of the past year and the reading out of the major challenges of the coming year.
And exactly at midnight in all Catholic countries, and Spain including begins the Christmas mass. Unfortunately, with each passing year, the parishioners at the churches on Christmas night is getting smaller. It is in this context that, Pope Benedict XVI recently announced that Christmas could completely lose their religious character, and become a mass consumer event.
After Christmas in Spain, as in Russia, the so-called holiday Marathon. For two weeks, mark off the old year
One thing I can tell you for sure, Christmas in Spain is very positive, bright and colorful celebration. And no matter what region of Spain you will come across a Christmas, you still have absolutely the best and fond memories!