CHRISTMAS IN CATALONIA

We live in Catalonia. It is an Autonomous Community in Spain. Our official language is Catalan and it coexists with the official language of Spanish. We maintain customs that distinguishes us from the rest of Spain. Our way of celebrating Christmas can show you some of these differences. Catalunya = Catalonia Introduction to Catalonia

CHRISTMAS STARTS WITH “LA FIRA DE SANTA LLUCIA” It s the oldest fair dedicated to Nativity scenes and Christmas traditions ( ). Fira Santa Llucia

It is a Crib Scene with the Shepherds, Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus and the caganer (pooper). Nativity story

ELS PASTORETS = THE LITTLE SHEPERDS Pastorets

TRADITIONALDESSERTS - yummy!

24 th of December

We celebrate Saint Esteban (Stephe). This is a feast that takes place only in Catalonia. We enjoy a family dinner where we eat Canneloni. Catalan people are said to be stingy and disliking of waste. The Canneloni is made by hand and the rolls of pasta are filled with the meat that is leftover from the meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. 26 th of December

28th December - Sants Innocents (Day of the Innocents) We practice jokes and silly stories, like April Fool’s Day in Britain. Jokes are innocent and funny, like sticking stickers on people’s clothes without them knowing, and the newspapers and TV stations invent silly news. If you trick someone, you can call them 'Innocent, innocent' '.

31st December - “L'Home dels Nassos” (man of noses) The man of noses is a curious character in Catalan tradition, who appears on the streets only on the 31st of December and is said to have “as many noses on his face as days remaining in the year”!

31st December - New Year's Eve At 12pm the church bells ring 12 times and with each chime you eat a grape. This will bring you luck for the new year. Don't look for fireworks. We prepare dinner with the family.

Normally we make promises about the new year. We have dinner with the family, normally with stuffed chicken or sheep. 1 st of January – NEW YEAR

5th January - The Day of the Three Kings This is a big celebration for us. It tells the arrival of the 3 kings who give children toys and sweets. We go to bed and leave shoes and a snack near the window. On the morning of the 6th, we find the gifts, which the kings left for us, sometimes with a piece of coal (if you have not been a good guy!)

TORTELL DE REIS This is a cake we eat the 6 th of January after lunch. It has 2 things inside: a bean and a king. 6 th of January – THE PARADE

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