A Spanish Christmas

This was my first year spending Christmas completely away from home. As Mom and I reminisced while she was here, we've been away during the Christmas season before, and we decided that things never go the way they are supposed to during the holiday season (especially on the 23rd ;)). But this year was something entirely different. For the first time in my life, I celebrated Christmas (for the most part) Spanish Style. Now, one important thing before I start my story is that here in Spain, the holiday season really starts on the 24th (decorating and preparation obviously starts before) and goes all the way until the 6th of January (Epiphany for anyone who knows what that might mean for us Canadians??) Unfortunately (or fortunately) because of my travel plans, I was in Spain to experience the special days: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Year's Day. Now the detailed explanation of odd Spanish traditions can begin.

December 24th: Since both my roommates (Ariela and Isabel) had left, Ariela set out for Eastern Europe, and Isa off to spend the holidays with her family, Mom and I were left at the apartment in Miranda. Very kindly, Jorge (neighbor) invited us to eat with his family on Christmas Eve. He assured me beforehand that him and his cousins could speak english so Mom wouldn't feel left out or uncomfortable (a plus!). On Christmas Eve, Mom and I went over to the main street (Calle la Estacion) here in Miranda to buy me a watch. Since we realized that most things were open, I suggested that we drop our purchases off and go out to a bar for a drink. Around 7pm we headed over to Fox (one of my favorite Mirandes bars) and to our surprise, the street was packed with dressed up Mirandeses having a beer or a glass of wine with their families (grandpa, grandma, kids, and dogs included). What Mom thought was pretty crazy is that they had been served in glass glasses and were out in the street! Of course I took this opportunity to scoop a Heineken class for the apartment... ;). After our casual drink in the streets of Miranda, Mom and I met up with Jorge and headed to his house for dinner (this is about 10pm now). At his house we met his sister, Olga, his cousin Raquel, and his aunt, uncle, dad, mom, and other cousin. We had a great dinner that included tons of seafood (not ideal for mom, but typical for the holiday season here) great cheese, lots of wine, lemon and clementine sorbet, chocolates for dessert, etc. etc. If I remember correctly we finished the night around 3:00am. Great food and great company made for a great Christmas Eve. December 25th: Mom and I had a great day, made pancakes in the morning, along with Aunt Jemimas syrup, Tim Hortons coffee...etc. We hung around the house for the day, packing and getting things ready for our departure to Diana's the next day, and later in the evening we made churros and thick chocolate, got comfy on the couch and watched the Grinch who Stole Christmas and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

December 31st:
To ring in the New Year (Spanish style of course) a couple different things happened. By this time Mom had already headed home to Canada, and I was staying at Diana's until I left for Prague on the 2nd. First We relaxed at rested up for most of the day (or I did anyways, knowing that Spanish people love celebrating late into the night/morning/next afternoon, I needed to prepare myself) So I woke up late, ate lunch, slept again, and around 7 decided to shower and get ready with Diana and Soraya. ready with Diana and Soraya. Around 9pm we headed over to Dianas grandparents house for dinner. Just like Christmas Eve, the spread was huuuuugeee! The table was covered in food from end to end, and similar again, most of it was seafood. Full jumbo shrimp, prawns, clams, muscles, anything you wanted you got it. By the end I was stuffed and ready for the countdown. Before and during the dinner, we each opened a little goody bag containing noisemakers, new years hats, confetti, etc. One pretty obvious difference between New Years in Spain and New Years in Canada, is who I rang the new year in with. At midnight in Canada, I would usually be at some party (or maybe a bar) surrounded by friends and acquaintances, but in Spain, I was with Diana and her family. Virtually everyone in Spain (except those waiting for the ball to drop in Madrid) were with their families. Because in Spain, the real party doesn't even start until around 1 or 2am, when everyone goes out, and really gets to business. In our case we chose (after long considerations) to go out in Carbonero (the biggest town by Diana's). Another big difference was what I was doing during the countdown. In Canada probably smiling, talking to friends etc. But in Spain, I spent the 12 seconds before 12:00 eating one grape for each "dong" of the bells. Of course as an inexperienced grape eater, at 12:00 I had 12 grapes stuffed in my mouth, but it was fun anyways.

Anyhow, after the grape eating insanity, we headed out with a big group and went to Carbonero where we spent the night dancing, wishing happy new years to everyone, and just catching up. We eventually headed home around 8am, which I think was early considering not many people had left before us... crazy spaniards.

January 1st: Well, after a long, but fun night/morning out on the town, I was woken up by Soraya coming into my room around 2:30 asking me if I was getting up soon because we had to go eat. At this point I swear I was thinking "Again???" But I just said "Yep, getting up." I got downstairs, showered and got dressed in time to get back over to grandparents house, to see yet another giant amount of food waiting for us. Now, I think most Canadians would agree that after a really fun night out, the best thing you could have is a good breakfast: bacon, eggs, orange juice, etc etc. Well, of course I shouldn't have expected this from my milk and cookie breakfast eating spanish family. Instead, I saw MORE seafood, more prawns, more angulas (which according to my translation, is a young eel??), exactly what my stomach is not wanting after a New Years party, but I ate it all anyways. Haha. After a hefty meal, a coffee, and far too many chocolates, we played a quality game of Cranium (in Spanish of course, and that totally rattled my brain) then decided that it was time to head home, wash laundry, pack, aka. get ready for my flight to Prague the next day!!

Conclusion: Wonderful, incredibly different Christmas experience, something I valued and appreciated, but next Christmas I'll look forward to a good old fashioned turkey with mashed potatoes dripping with gravy!! oh ya. and pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, stuffing.....