Christmas

Christmas in Andalucia ©istockphoto
Christmas in Andalucia

Christmas

Christmas is not Andalucia´s biggest religious celebration - Semana Santa has that distinction. But it is nonetheless a big deal, with all the seasonal ambience, lights, markets, special food and other trappings. Every school, shop, office and home has a Nativity Scene.

 

 

Traditionally, children received their presents at Dia de los Reyes Magos (Kings´ Day, 6 January), but these days many get theirs either at Christmas, or at both Christmas and Reyes, as foreign influence grows in Spain.

The big event in these parts is Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), rather than Christmas Day, when a full-on late-night family meal is likely to feature ham (of course - no Andalucian house is complete at Christmas without a pig leg sitting in the kitchen for some surreptitious snacking), cheese, seafood, and traditional seasonal Spanish pastries and sweets such as Roscos Navideños (donuts) and turron (almond nougat).

Christmas

Mantecados de Estepa

The crumbly Christmas cookies collectively known as mantecados, which you will see in the months leading up to Christmas, individually wrapped and sold either by weight, or in a box, are made in a town located in the eastern part in Seville province, Estepa.

Christmas Shopping

An important part of the lead-up to Christmas for Andalucians involves one of their favourite pastimes - shopping. This isn't just about making purchases, whether gifts or food for one of the big family meals; it's about browsing, wandering through stores looking at things, discussing them - at length and in detail - with friends and family (jamon, decorations, belen figures, shoes, kitchen equipment) over coffee.

Christmas in Andalucia

If you’re expecting Christmas in Andalucia to be somewhat like it is back home, you’re in for a surprise. Everything from the beginning to the end of the season is going to be different from anything you’ve ever experienced before.

Christmas

Christmas is not Andalucia´s biggest religious celebration - Semana Santa has that distinction. But it is nonetheless a big deal, with all the seasonal ambience, lights, markets, special food and other trappings. Every school, shop, office and home has a Nativity Scene.

Flamenco - Villancicos - Zambombas

The villancicos are also known by the name of zambombas in Andalucía, a name which comes from the instrument that is traditionally used to accompany them. A zambomba is a drum like instrument that has a stick inserted through the skin, and the stick is moved up and down, creating the rhythm.

Christmas of the Gypsies

Unlike most Spaniards, who focus their religious fervour on the Virgin Mary, the gypsies have always identified closely with Jesus, because, like them, he was a wanderer and had to rely on whatever pickings he could find, as he made his way through the world.

Christmas Pastries

Traditional Spanish Christmas pastries (of the non-"turrón" type) add a special touch to the holidays with their own distinct flavours - and textures! Here is a look at some of the most popular specialities. Once upon a time they were only available in December and January, but that is changing. Nevertheless, it's only during the holiday season that you'll see them in such large amounts. In fact, in most supermarkets you can even buy them in bulk.

See and Do

Living in Andalucia