CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN

 The real Christmas here begins on 22^nd of December, which is the day on which the raffle for the Christmas Lottery is performed. This giveaway is the most important in the world (thus the money distributed as so important that it has in Spain, people started buying lottery tickets in August). Students have rental from about 21^st or 22^nd of December till 8^th of January.

Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members to gather together and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.

The 31^st of December there is an 'ancient' tradition, started by some shrewd farmers about 100 years ago when they were left with too many grapes after the harvest, of eating twelve grapes at the twelve bongs of midnight.

The 6^th of January, among one of the strangest traditions in Spain is the Three Kings. The three kings and their pages ride through the streets on elaborate floats, throwing candy and small toys to kids. The following day, families eat a flaky pastry cake with candied fruit, called the Roscón. Two figurines are hidden within the cake – a toy figure and a bean. That one who finds the bean must pay for the following year’s cake.

After almost 4 months, I have returned to Spain for Christmas, in two weeks I have been with my family and friends, I enjoyed a relaxing time, I've eaten the typical meals prepared by my mother and had a few drinks with old friends. Have been two great weeks that have happened very fast, but it has been very emotional and rewarding for me.