Language Matters

If you’ve ever wondered what Christmas in Spain looks like, read on!

Christmas isn’t just a holiday and time off work, but a long, joyful celebration full of food, family and the to-be-expected large dose of Spanish tradition!

The season kicks off with El Gordo, the famous Christmas lottery drawn every 22nd of December. On this day, the entire country seems to pause as school children sing out the winning numbers in a unique and rather catchy way. Whether or not you’re a gambler, buying a décimo (a 10th of a ticket) is almost a cultural obligation. Tickets are 200euros, so are split into 10ths and sold individually. No one wants to be the only person in their office, street or town who didn’t join in. It’s less about winning and more about being part of a

nationwide moment, though the potential for a life changing prize is luring!

The annual advert is much waited for (think: John Lewis adverts!) and brings a tear to many an eye. The ad agency pulls at the heart strings with their tagline of “el mayor premio es compartirlo” – the best prize of all is sharing.

Christmas Eve, known as Nochebuena, is the true heart of Spanish Christmas. While other countries save their biggest celebration for Christmas Day, Spaniards gather on the evening of the 24th for a feast fit for an army; seafood, roast meats, and plenty of cava. After dinner many attend the Misa del Gallo, the midnight mass.

Across Spain, towns and homes become filled with beléns, elaborate nativity scenes built in great detail. These are not just mantelpiece decorations, they are considered as important to them as a Christmas tree is in our homes; in some towns they hold a life-size Belén complete with real animals. In Catalonia, the traditional caganer figure often hides somewhere in the scene, you’ll know him when you spot him, and yes, he’s the one squatting in the corner. It’s the oddest of all traditions and seems to go against the spirit of Christmas – but it’s a thing in Catalonia… and who are we to argue!

Staying in Catalonia, we have another of Spain’s most delightfully odd Christmas characters: Tió de Nadal, the ‘pooping log’. This is a normal wooden log, chosen by the child, and painted with a smile and wearing a beret or warm hat. He is wrapped in a cosy blanket and placed by the fire. Every evening he is “fed” by children, who leave out goodies and sweets and the odd warming drink throughout December. On Christmas Eve when he is fully fattened up, families gather and sing a special song to encourage him to ‘poop’. They tap him with a stick until they finally lift the blanket and he ‘poops’ small

gifts and sweets for the children as a thank you for his treats during December. Strange? Yes. Charming? Absolutely.

Tió de Nadal