Granada Tonight

No nation in the world knows how to have fun like Spain, so at Christmas, the holidays are naturally long and spectacular.

The Christmas season in Spain is of course focused on religion, more than in England, where the pagan traditions of gift and decorative trees have overshadowed the true meaning of Christmas and the celebration of the birth of the son of God.

The Spanish Christmas Eve to see the night as a time for family, party and spend time together in the house. Unlike other countries, you will find shops, bars and restaurants open on the evening of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, but it is another thing, where everything is open and running, including buses and trains, which are on so that families can visit each other without having to take the car!

During Advent, which is the four weeks preceding Christmas, houses, towns and villages are decorated with Christmas trees (a¡rboles de Navidad), crowns (crowns Navidad), foil (espumilla³n), Holly (Acebo ), mistletoe (muedrdago) and poinsettia (Flores de Navidad), as well as innovative lighting wrapped around tree branches. But the most popular ornament in accordance with the religious tone of the season is the beledn "- the nursery. Some cities build rich scenes, and many do not stop to "Jesus in the manger, with representatives of most parts of the Christmas story, and in some places, they are not just using figures - they use real actors! Some of them are a popular tourist attraction. If you have the chance to see one, do not be surprised if the animals eat-traditional side are connected by the national symbol of Spain - the bull!

Also during December many people to participate in the Spanish El Gordo, the draw the most famous in the world with massive cash prizes (El Gordo literally means "big"). The draw for Christmas is December 22 and the total price of 2.023 billion euros! It is more than 1.3 billion pounds! To learn more about www.elgordo.com .

The Spaniards have a long Christmas period, with the first major celebration will take place December 21, the winter solstice and shortest day of the year. Lights - which means "fire" - is a tradition than Christmas itself, and marks the beginning of winter. As well as bonfires be all over Spain, in some cities (Jaedn and Granada in Andalusia), you will see people jumping over fires, which is an act meant to protect against disease.

Christmas Eve - Nochebuena (which means "good night") - December 24 sees families gather for a special meal late at night. It is usually composed of a first course of seafood, followed by many types of meat, not just Turkey but it is popular, especially with truffles (Pavo Trufado Navidad). After dinner the family gathered around the Christmas tree and sing carols (villancicos), including the popular Catalan Fum, Fum, Fum. At midnight, the bells are ringing all over Spain to call families to "La Misa del Gallo" - literally "cock mass. Christmas has no place to sleep! There is an old Spanish saying:

Esta noche es Nochebuena, y no es noche sleep
Tonight was a good night, not a night to sleep

Christmas Day (El Da­a de Navidad), unlike other countries, is not a day to exchange gifts. Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) is known in Spain, but is not very popular, so Spanish children can not be corrupted with the "if you're not good Santa will not bring you gifts this year Online. There is a time for gift giving, but not on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day (Da­a del Boxeo) is best known as the feast.