Christmas in Barcelona
SandrineHey everybody!
How are you? Getting ready for the winter season? As December is now around the corner, you must be already wondering what you will be doing for Christmas time! Have you already thought of your presents, for example? or where you will spend Christmas, for example?
Again Victorien (our Work Placement guy that I will not have to introduce as it now his third blog!) decided he would give you more information about Christmas in Spain.
Hey guys! This is Victorien again!
Since there are only a few days left before Christmas, I have decided to dedicate this blog to this celebration. As you know, each country has its own traditions. In Spain, Christmas is according to what I have seen here until now not as commercial as in other countries. Lights in the streets are only lit the first week of December until Christmas day. The Christmas tree is quite common but only appears in the second half of December.
However, in Spain, Christmas celebrations start before December 24th. December 8th is the Immaculate Conception’s day. This marks the beginning of Christmas celebrations.
On December 22nd, Spanish people are not really far from their TV or radio due to the Christmas lottery and everybody wants to win El Gordo “the fat one”. If you are curious to check how they present it on television, just check this video!
On December 24th (Christmas Eve), people usually meet in a bar for a few drinks and get back home later to enjoy a family meal. The typical Christmas sweets are Turrón (a kind of nougat) and Polvorones (with almond paste).
On Christmas day, tables are covered with tapas, asparagus, ham, roast turkey … and all the family enjoy a huge meal! And if you live in Barcelona and have small children in your family, you will probably celebrate the “Caga Tío”. You do not know what it is? Well check Genta’s blog! You will see. The story is AMAZING! Much funnier than our traditional “Father Christmas!”
On 26th December Catalonians celebrate the Feast of San Esteban. This is a feast day that takes place only in Cataluña Trust me; there are so many activities and so many things to see in Barcelona on Christmas time. It is really hard to decide what to do exactly!!!
That is why Camino Barcelona offers a special Christmas course which gathers Spanish classes and cultural activities. This course starts on December 20th and you can stay one or two weeks. During your stay, you will be able to enjoy the Barcelonese Christmas atmosphere as the course includes a complete activity programme. You will have the opportunity for instance to visit the Santa Lucia Christmas market, go shopping around Gracia district, taste typical Spanish sweets in a “turroneria” So if you want to improve your Spanish, experience an unforgettable Christmas, this course if for you.
We are currently preparing our Christmas programme and will give you more details very shorlty!
Since you have read my article until the end, once again I will give you a tip: if you reserve your Christmas course before December 2010, you will get a €20 off. So if you want to escape from coldness, you just have to book your course now. See you soon at Camino then!
Victorien
