Public Republic

Susana Martínez

Christmas in Spain is a nice combination of different feelings like joy, happiness, hope, friendship and love. We usually follow the traditional customs or, at least, we try to do it. The streets are full of lights and, in most of the main squares of the city centre, you can find a beautiful Christmas tree surrounded by the looks of tourists, people and children who can’t avert their eyes from it.

Photo: laffy4k

The 22nd of December is a day “special” for us; it’s the day when luck can knock on our doors. The National lottery is such a big tradition in our Christmas that some people spend a lot of money thinking that maybe their lives could change that year. There are also thousands of Christmas dinners at companies, with friends and so on, held in the best restaurants.

People spend Christmas Eve with the family, preparing a good dinner and although St. Claus is not the “star” of our Christmas, lately more and more people celebrate it. We welcome the New Year by eating 12 grapes, one for each stroke of the clock. On January 5th at night, the Three Wise Men bring people presents, the day when they brought gifts for the baby Jesus. That is a very special night, above all for the children that go to bed very soon just waiting for the next day to come. This is a magic time of the year for the people that believe in Christmas.