Christmas time in Spain is simple but wonderful. The magical Three Wise Men will be a regular occurrence for visiting hotels or festivals which are widely celebrated in Tenerife. It is a time when families come together and welcome each other with food, music and wine.
Let me take you on a little tour to show you how a typical Spanish traditional Christmas would be spent and some important dates of celebration.
December 24th - Christmas Eve, where you will find families gather to attend Midnight Mass "La Misa Del Gallo' which means Mass of the Rooster. The history behind this is that the Rooster was supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was born.
This day is one of the main days of celebration where families will have a main meal or Christmas dinner (Turkey stuffed with mushrooms). In Northern Spain, traditional Christmas lunch will be seafood as the area is surrounded by water.
Meat, Fish and good wine (mainly meat). Liqueurs and typical sweets such as Touron (almond, marzipan and various other flavours). Dry fruits and cheeses and the famous Serrano ham. Some families will celebrate with a glass of champagne as this date is a very special celebration day.
Meat, Fish and good wine (mainly meat). Liqueurs and typical sweets such as Touron (almond, marzipan and various other flavours). Dry fruits and cheeses and the famous Serrano ham. Some families will celebrate with a glass of champagne as this date is a very special celebration day.
After Midnight Mass, in some towns, people walk the streets with lanterns/torches and play guitars and bang on drums. Family and friends continue with celebrations in the home with food, good wine and singing.
December 25th - this day is not celebrated and is a normal day. It would be a day after the celebrations so I would imagine there will be sore heads from the fiesta and tired children.The day is spent snacking and eating (possibly cold food left over but still fresh and good). Continue with drinking to celebrate but this date is not Christmas day like it is in many other countries. The day will still be enjoyed by singing carols and family time.
December 28th - is similar to April Fools day in the UK where a little trick will be played (but not to the extent of the UK version). It is to celebrate el Día de los Santos Inocentes and a light humour joke will be played. This day is a remembrance of Kind Herod when he ordered to have all children killed under the age of 2 years but he was tricked as baby Jesus had already been taken away.
December 31st - New Year's Eve and a celebration of music, wine and fireworks. The tradition at the stroke of midnight, on each chime of the bell, you must eat one grape for every chime. It is believed that if you eat the 12 grapes on each chime, you will have 12 months of good luck.
January 5th - is a time for children to be excited and a hope that tomorrow will bring some gifts from the Three Kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) arriving on their camels. Slippers or shoes are put outside of front doors or balconies, cognac and goodies for the Kings and water and hay (grass) for the camels. Presents would be put in the slippers/shoes for the children to open the next day. The theory behind this story is this is the date in the bible when the Three Kings visited Bethlehem to see baby Jesus and brought gifts of Gold, incense and myrrh.
A wonderful tale and I will never forget the experience of the year my two children Katie & Peter spent Reyes Day in Tenerife, putting their shoes out and hay for the camels. They both did not quite believe this story, until the next day when presents arrived and we suddenly seen the Three Kings and camels walking the streets of Tenerife in parades and visiting hotels. What magical times, fun and memories to treasure and I often have a chuckle of remembering their little faces in disbelief!
December 28th - is similar to April Fools day in the UK where a little trick will be played (but not to the extent of the UK version). It is to celebrate el Día de los Santos Inocentes and a light humour joke will be played. This day is a remembrance of Kind Herod when he ordered to have all children killed under the age of 2 years but he was tricked as baby Jesus had already been taken away.
December 31st - New Year's Eve and a celebration of music, wine and fireworks. The tradition at the stroke of midnight, on each chime of the bell, you must eat one grape for every chime. It is believed that if you eat the 12 grapes on each chime, you will have 12 months of good luck.
January 5th - is a time for children to be excited and a hope that tomorrow will bring some gifts from the Three Kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) arriving on their camels. Slippers or shoes are put outside of front doors or balconies, cognac and goodies for the Kings and water and hay (grass) for the camels. Presents would be put in the slippers/shoes for the children to open the next day. The theory behind this story is this is the date in the bible when the Three Kings visited Bethlehem to see baby Jesus and brought gifts of Gold, incense and myrrh.
A wonderful tale and I will never forget the experience of the year my two children Katie & Peter spent Reyes Day in Tenerife, putting their shoes out and hay for the camels. They both did not quite believe this story, until the next day when presents arrived and we suddenly seen the Three Kings and camels walking the streets of Tenerife in parades and visiting hotels. What magical times, fun and memories to treasure and I often have a chuckle of remembering their little faces in disbelief!
I hope you have enjoyed the little write up of Christmas in Tenerife and it would be lovely to have some feedback from anyone who feels they would like to leave a comment or share this story.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo!
God Bless x
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo!
God Bless x
No comments :
Post a Comment