Spain lexicon N
The St Nicholas tradition we are familiar with, where St Nicholas fills the shoe placed in front of the door with sweets, does not exist in Spain. Neither do Advent calendars or wreaths. The Christmas market and mulled wine that are so popular here are also not to be found in Spain. Giving presents on Christmas Eve, where presents are placed under the Christmas tree, is also a thing of the past in Spain, as although the Christmas tree has become more and more fashionable in recent decades, the tradition has only been adopted from other countries and Father Christmas, Papa Noël, does not actually exist.
Christmas in Spain is more of a family celebration.
On 24 December (Nochebuena), people in Spain celebrate in a close family circle with a dinner, the so-called “cena de nochebuena”. The nativity scene is at the centre of the festivities at Christmas time. In Spanish churches, public squares and public buildings, elaborately designed nativity scenes are set up, sometimes with life-size figures that recreate the birth of Christ. In many places there are also “living nativity scenes” (pessebres vivents): Stagings in which the Christmas story is portrayed. This tradition, which originated in Catalonia, can now also be found in other regions of Spain.
The actual day of celebration is 6 January, the Día de los Reyes. The magnificent royal processions, the Cabalgatas de los Reyes, take place on the evening of 5 January. On this evening, children in Spain also place boots by the fireplace to be filled by the three wise men from the Orient – the Reyes Magos. They bring coal to bad children. However, children also have the opportunity to send letters of wishes to the Three Wise Men in advance, which they can post in specially placed letterboxes in post offices.
On 28 December, the Día de los Inocentes, you shouldn’t believe everything your fellow human beings say, because this day is comparable to our 1st April.
Nochevieja (Old Night) – New Year's Eve
31 December – just before midnight. Anyone not celebrating New Year’s Eve in the capital will switch on the television shortly before the turn of the year, which will show the bell tower of the old post office on the Puerta del Sol at 11.59 pm at the latest. After a preceding chime, twelve chimes follow at midnight. At each one, the aim is to eat a bunch of grapes, the so-called “uvas de la suerte” (lucky grapes). Those who succeed will not only have good luck in the coming year, but will also be blessed with good health.
Novillero/Novilladas
The novillero is a young bullfighter who has not yet completed the alternativa, the introduction to becoming a matador. A novillada is a bullfight with young bulls up to three years old.