Christmas traditions vary from country to country, as each culture chooses to celebrate the festive season in its own unique way. Our Spanish language school loves to celebrate all Spanish traditions, as well as running online Spanish classes. Take a look at some of our favorite traditions to find out more.
Midnight Masses - La Misa Del Gallo
Spain is a predominantly Catholic country, with just under 70% of the population identifying with the religion. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is, therefore, an important tradition, and in Spain, it is coined La Misa Del Gallo, which translates as the mass of the rooster. Often, families will share a dinner together before Midnight Mass, before going to Church together to worship, pray and celebrate the birth of Jesus on the night before he was born.
El Gordo
One of the most unique Christmas traditions in Spain is the National Spanish Lottery, known as El Gordo that happens every Christmas. Many share tickets, hoping to split the winnings if their lucky ticket comes up. It is the largest lottery on the planet, which is why it is nicknamed the Fat Lottery, which sees winners raking in over two billion Euros. The lottery has been running for over 200 years, with the winners announced on the 22nd of December each year by a choir on national TV. What a great Christmas gift that would be!
The Three Kings - Los Tres Reyes Magos
From Santa Claus to Saint Nicolas, many different countries have their own traditions about a white bearded man in a red suit. Spain, on the other hand, does not. Instead, their tradition focuses on Three Wise Men, or Three Kings that deliver presents to children if they have been well behaved. They visit Spanish cities, towns, and villages on January the 5th, where they take part in the cabalgatas parade and give sweets to children. They deliver the presents at night, where they fill up the shoes of the children to find the following day.
Spanish Christmas Markets
If you are visiting Spain and really want to get into the Christmas spirit, then why not hit the Spanish Christmas markets, which usually run for the entire month of December in most city centres in the region. Traditional stalls stock everything from sweets, nativity sets, Spanish Christmas ornaments to gifts you can give to your loved ones for Christmas.
These markets are generally located outdoors, so wrap up warm as the winter months in Spain can be cooler than expected. If you are looking to visit the Spanish Christmas markets, why not try and learn to speak Spanish with online Spanish courses so that you can ask questions and complete transactions in the native language.
With Christmas music in the background, the smell of cinnamon and cloves in the air, and traditional market stalls, there is no better way to soak in the festive atmosphere.
To find out more about Spanish culture and the traditions of Spain, why not learn Spanish via our online courses. Click here to find out more.
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