New Year's Customs and Traditions – Spain

12/13/07 00:12:53

The days before New Year's Eve are the time of celebration and joy. They take us to the beginning of the New Year’s cycle. For many, it means a new beginning and leaving their worries and sadness behind, in the year that passed. Different cultures have their specific ways to celebrate the arrival of the New Year that is coming, traditions and customs specific for each region, country and people.

Just like in the most countries, in Spain the beginning of December brings decoration of streets, shop windows, restaurants, coffee bars and houses, which will create a festive atmosphere and bring smiles to people’s faces. The feeling that the New Year is coming makes people see the world around them in a brighter light.

In Spain there are several important days that precede the New Year’s Eve. One of the important days is 22nd December, the day of the biggest lottery in Spain. This lottery was started in 1763 by King Carlos III, and since then it takes place on the same date every year, and symbolizes the beginning of the Christmas season and setting plans for the New Year’s celebrations.

December 24 is the day called “Nochebuena”, or Christmas Eve. People in Spain celebrate this day with a rich menu. Many various dishes are served on that day, depending on the area, but the most common are roast lamb or pork in Castilla León, Castilla la Mancha and Madrid; turkey or roast duck in Andalusia, and variety of sea food on the coast.

For desert they usually prepare sweets, Arabian, made of honey, eggs and almonds, and the Spanish campaign – Cava.

The Christmas day, December 25, is celebrated in a traditional way, like in many other countries in the world. The celebration of the previous day is continued.

The New Year's Eve, in Spanish „Nochevieja", celebration is a real joy for the Spanish people, as well as anywhere else in the world. Families and friends gather singing and dancing, to await the midnight countdown and fireworks. Spanish people make New Year's Eve fireworks accompanied with a big noise since the old times, as according to the old beliefs, noise and fire repel evil spirits and bring happiness and good luck.

There is another custom in the Spanish tradition of celebrating the arrival of the New Year. While the clock beats midnight, they eat 12 grapes which will bring them good luck for all the 12 months in the year that comes.

Many people wait for the midnight hour outside, on the squares and streets, and with the church bells chimes and fireworks they felicitate the arrival of the New Year to their fellow citizens. It is also a custom to eat a chocolate and biscuits, or chocolate biscuits, at early dawn of the first New Year’s Day and that way relish the end of celebration.

One important celebration comes on January 6 – Epiphany, or the Three Kings Day. On the day before this holiday, on January 5, Epiphany parades are organized everywhere. People come out to the streets to join the celebration and welcoming of the three Wise Men, Kings Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar.

The biggest parade is organized in Barcelona, where the Three Kings arrive by the ship. Welcomed by the mayor of the Barcelona City and the jolly mass, they are taken by a carriage to the Olympic stadium. On the way to the stadium the Three Kings are throwing sweets to children.

In the evening of the January 5, children leave their shoes on the terraces, window frames, or some other visible place in the house so that the Three Kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar can leave presents for them.

On the Epiphany day, January 6, a traditional cake is often prepared – “Roscón de los Reyes”. It is a big cake in a shape of ring, decorated with candied fruits. It symbolizes the rubies and emeralds that adorned the robes of the Three Kings. The ring cake hides a surprise inside and whoever of the inmates finds it becomes the crowned King or Queen of that holly day.