Christmas in Spain: Part 2

In part one, I talked about some general aspects of Christmas in Spain. Part two will just be me rambling about what I have actually done to celebrate Christmas here in Spain.

Christmas Eve was the biggest Christmas event. I arrived at the Bundy house at around 6, where I joined in the frantic preparations for people to begin arriving at around 8. At around 8pm, the Abuelos arrived, as well as two friends who didn't have other family to celebrate with. We ate dinner at around 10pm, and let me tell you, it was a feast. It was definitely comparable in quantity and quality to a typical US Christmas day meal, and maybe even a private Thanksgiving. After much ado at the table, we all settled in to listen to the Christmas Story from Luke, read by Abuelo. After the reading, some Christmas Carols were in order, and the few suitable Spanish ones were sung (we avoided the drunken peces en el rio, springing instead for "Ay, del Chiquirritin").

At the stroke of midnight, it was officially Christmas Day, so the children of the house scattered to find baby Jesus, who had been removed from the manger scene at the beginning of December, and hidden somewhere in the house until he was born. Once Jesus was safely in his stable, the giving of gifts commenced. Earlier in the week, we all picked names out of a hat, and, given a limit of 15€, we wracked our brains for the perfect--or at least suitable--gift. I had drawn Abuela, and since she is always stuffing me full of delicious foods (sometimes a little too insistently--everyone in that family is convinced I need fattening up, and they go at it with Cuban vigor), I made her 1 1/2 dozen delicious molasses cookies. Abuelo had me, and gave me a fantastic scarf, a real blessing since I had recently lost my only scarf (I believe at Mcdonalds), and with the onset of honest-to-goodness cold weather, was shivering mucho during my walks to and from my apartment.

After gifts were given, we continued on with the evening, which included much chat, dessert with tea and/or coffee, and general Christmas cheer. I finally made it back to my room at around 2:30am, falling into blessed slumber about the time when I suspect Scrooge made his acquaintance with the ghost of Christmas Yet-to-come.

Christmas day was nearly half over when I awoke, and after groggily greeting the day, I got up, and listened to some much needed Christmas Music, sent via post by my sister. After a pleasant 2 hours of listening to A Very Rosey Christmas, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and of course, Mannheim Steamroller, I called my family as they were starting to open presents. That was probably the highlight of my day, and I was very thankful that Skype was on the top of its game. I don't think I've ever experience the prolonged stability of sound AND video quality that I did during those 2 and a half hours that I talked to my family and watched them open presents. It was a wonderful time.

After hanging up with the family, I made my way once more to the Bundy's, this time for to simple hang out with whomever happened to drop by. I spent a pleasant afternoon and evening, and made it home slightly earlier that evening, at around 1:30ish.

Saturday, I was once again out and about, this time off to a small-group somewhere near the outskirts of Madrid. Being in Spain, this of course also included a large meal, this time amazing (I believe Peruvian) soup. Stuffed to the gills and saturated in an afternoon of stimulating conversation, I got home and hit the sack.

And that, so far, has been my Christmas experience here in Spain. One will notice that food and staying up late features prominently in every sing event. More on this later. Also, it must be remembered that Kings day is still to come, which has been traditionally THE big event in Spain, so look for more on Christmas after the 6th.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!