Much like the USA, Spain starts to feel the Christmas cheer as early as November. Many nations have a Christian population and their own religious and secular Christmas traditions. Spain, whose population is largely Catholic, has many unique ways of celebrating this time of year - which lasts nearly a month! Studying abroad in Spain close to Christmas time would be a truly breathtaking experience, and here's why!
Firstly, Spain and many other primarily Catholic countries have peripheral holidays surrounding Christmas itself. December 8th is the celebration of the Inmaculada Concepcion, or the "Immaculate Conception" of the Virgin Mary. Many cities throughout Spain gather and celebrate together on the streets, often times congregating near statues of Mary. The most popular celebration is in Sevilla, where a group of children recites classic passages and the locals engage in the "Dance of the Sixes".
On Christmas Eve ('Nochebuena"), families convene and enjoy large meals together. What is served varies according to the regions of the country. Suckling pig and lamb in the Castille/La Macha region, fowl in Andalusia and seafood on the coast. The dessert is normally turron and a marzipan dessert. After dinner and mass, people get together in the streets and dance the "Jota."
On Christmas Day, families go to church for the day and continue to feast. On particularly unique tradition is that of the swing. Swings are specially set up for children, who swing on them. This is meant to symbolize the Winter Solstice, and the "swinging" of the sun further up into the sky.
But the fun doesn't end there! January 6th is the Feast of the Epiphany (when people exchange presents!). If you are the adventurous type who enjoys nontraditional holiday vacations, a Christmas in Spain would be a great idea!
To learn more about studying Spanish in Spain, visit:
Spanish Study Abroad Programs
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