Assembly Spanish Culture Seño Laura – Diciembre 2008

Spanish Culture Navidad en España ¡Feliz Navidad!

This Christmas Lottery is considered the biggest lottery worldwide. Spanish Culture The most important days are… El 22 de diciembre: El gordo de la lotería de Navidad. The Spanish Christmas Lottery is a national lottery game organized every year since 1812 by a branch of the Spanish Public Administration. This Christmas Lottery is considered the biggest lottery worldwide.

Spanish Culture El Gordo ("the big one") was €540,000,000 which was distributed among 180 winning tickets (billetes) that won €3,000,000 each.

It’s the most special day in the Spanish christmas Spanish Culture El 24 de diciembre: Christmas Eve in Spain, called “Nochebuena”, is celebrated with two very important traditions: the reunion of the whole family and eating an enormous meal. It’s the most special day in the Spanish christmas

Spanish Culture Each region has its own distinct specialties like lamb, turkey… and an enormous variety of seafood, including shrimp, lobster, crab, and various types of fish like hake, trout…

Spanish Culture El 25 de diciembre: El día de Navidad people spend time with their families, they eat another large meal (not as big as the one the day before!), and in many families, children enjoy the gifts that they have received from “Papa Noel”, the Spanish equivalent of Santa Claus.  Giving gifts on this date is not as popular as it is in many countries, as Spaniards traditionally wait until Three King’s Day to exchange gifts. 

Spanish Culture El 28 de diciembre: El día de los inocentes, is a day for jokes, equivalent to April Fool's Day in many countries.  Many foreigners who are in Spain become very confused as absurd or incredible news appears in the papers..!

Spanish Culture El 31 de diciembre: Nochevieja, in all plazas of Spanish cities, one can see a similar scene, and it will undoubtedly include bells and grapes. When the clock strikes 12, the church bells sound 12 times, and at this moment, all Spaniards eat 12 grapes, one for each toll of the bell.  According to tradition, those who eat the grapes will have 12 months of prosperity in the new year. 

Spanish Culture El 6 de enero: Los 3 Reyes Magos (Three King’s Day) is the long awaited day in which the three Kings bring their gifts. Before going to bed, children leave their shoes out in a visible spot in the house or on their balcony, and go to bed hoping that when they wake up they will find gifts left by Melchor, Gaspar y Baltasar. 

Spanish Culture On January 5 (the day before), children go to a parade where they see the three kings arrive to their city, and take the opportunity to ask them for gifts.

Spanish Culture