Andalusian Christmas CEIP Concepción Arenal

Date by date »22nd Dec: considered for most the starting point for Christmas because of “El Gordo” (the biggest lottery) and usually the day children start holidays. »24th Dec: Christmas Eve or “Nochebuena” to be celebrated with the family (singing, having dinner, going to the Midnight Mass or Rooster Mass and some exchanging presents). »25th Dec: Merry Christmas!! Visiting relatives and friends, having lunch, singing,… »28th Dec: Fools Day, pupils may hang paper men on others’ back, you can be a victim of jokes (even newspapers, TV, or the more serious you know can play some kind of prank on you).

»31st Dec: New Year’s Eve or “Nochevieja” to be celebrated with your family or friends, having a great dinner, listening to the 12 chimes and eating the 12 grapes (one per chime) to be lucky and drinking “cava” (Spanish champagne). »1st Jan: going on with New Year’s Celebrations. »5th Jan: The Three Wise Men Parade (they arrive to every town with the presents children asked for in their letters and the throw lots of sweets). »6ht Jan: giving presents to remember that the Three Wise Men gave presents to Baby Jesus. Children try to be awake but they can’t. When they wake up presents are at home and they haven’t seen the Kings. If they’ve been bad they get sweet coal.

»El Belén: The Nativity Scene is the most important decaration in houses and tows, with the Three Wise Men far from the Crib and approaching day by day until the 6th January arrives. The Spanish Nativity Scene has a very famous character “El Caganer” that children adore (a man doing his necessities supposed to bring good luck). »The Christmas Tree: adopted tradition which continues to grow. »Lights: street lights appear all over the towns and villages like in so many other places in the world. Decoration

Food Ham Roasted Lamb Roasted TurkeyPrawns Marzipan Cava Kings ring Buns Nougat The 12 grapes

Decoration of the school We cover Baby Jesus until his date of birth

Traditional instruments Guitar Jingle bell Zambomba Bottle and key or fork Mortar Tambourine

The music All around Andalusia carols get a “flamenco sound”, in all the patios specially in Jerez they improvise “zambombas” to celebrate “La Nochebuena” (Christmas Eve). All the “flamencos” with no exception have sung The Christmas and here you’ve got a nice “zambomba of Jerez”. The Divine Face: Traditional Andalusian carol sung by Mª José Santiago, a very famous singer in Andalusia. Web page to learn more about Christmas music in Andalusia and Spain:

Our particular version of Christmas music Campana sobre campana (4th graders) Los peces en el río (1st graders) Santa Claus is coming to town (5th graders)