Christmas in Spain

Christmas in Spain. 

     The Christmas season in Spain begins on December 8th with the feast of the immaculate Conception. An interesting feature of this feast is known as Los Seises, the Dance of Six, a custom in Seville in which boys perform a dance around the alter that symbolizes Christ's birth. Although the dance is still known by it's original name, it is now performed by ten boys.

     It is no surprise that the manger scene, or nacimiento, has a place of reverence in the Spanish Christmas. The manger scene contains all the traditional elements, with a few distinctly Spanish ones thrown in. Among the animals watching over Christ are a mule and a buey (ox) and a stream of water is always included. Sometimes bullfighters are part of the on-looking crowd. These scenes are set up in public squares and in homes, taking precedence over Christmas trees, which are not common.

Here's a Festive Fact... The Spanish refer to Christmas Eve as Noche Buena (Good Night)

     On Christmas Eve, family members gather in the room containing the nacimiento to sing hymns and pray. Late in the evening, the Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster) is attended. Many Hispanic countries refer to midnight mass as the Mass of the Rooster; it has been said that the only time a rooster ever crowed at midnight was the moment when Christ was born. After mass, a big meal is often consumed. 

   Adults exchange gifts on Christmas Day. Another treat is the Spanish version of the Urn of Fate, in this case, a bowl filled with the names of everyone present. Two names are picked out at once; those whose names are chosen together are supposed to enjoy a lasting friendship or romance. 

     There is much dancing and other festivities through Epiphany, the day that children receive presents in their shoes from the three wise men. (There is no Santa Claus figure)

(My own recollection of how my mother would leave my shoes outside my bedroom door Christmas Eve has always brought back fond memories) Sometimes three men would dress up as the Magi and wander the streets singing before visiting the public nacimiento.

About the Author...
 Born and raised in the state of New York, R.M. Villoria began his writing career as a prolific songwriter. After two back-to-back tours as a Marine in Vietnam, Villoria spent the next few years owning and operating a myriad of businesses and in 1992 returned to writing, this time appeasing his appetite for suspense and horror fiction.

 

Years in the making, his ghostly tales touching on the underpinnings of quantum physics and the paranormal are available for the public to enjoy. As his first published work, Villoria presents readers with Volume One of his series “Tales From the Mind Field.”

 

Villoria has a son and daughter and lives in Las Vegas with his Wife.