|
 |
|
|
|
Greetings
|
from Spain ...
DECEMBER 2008
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well December has been and gone and with it the
Fiestas and merriment
(I tell a lie it all starts again on the Kings
Day the 6th January)
The first celebration of the month was
Constitution Day on the 6th December which has been a
National Holiday since the present Constitution came into effect
in 1978.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Then a pause before Christmas Eve (which is not a
holiday) when families get together , especially around the
dining table for a huge meal and generally have fun.
|
 |
|
|
|
Christmas Day, which is a holiday, follows and
whilst the custom of giving gifts on this date is not as popular
as it is in many countries children nowadays look forward to a
visit from “Papa Noel”
(Santa Claus in Spanish)
Again there is a large family to be enjoyed.
Although Spaniards do not celebrate or have a
holiday on the English Boxing Day this year because Christmas
Day fell on Thursday the infamous “Puente” swung into action ...
...and
little or no work was done on Friday.
|
|
|
|
This continued following the weekend as December
28th is the
“Day of the Innocents”, an exclusively
Spanish day of celebration
 although
its roots lie in the murder of children by King Herod.
|
|
|
|
In modern times this has become a day of
joviality and fun with absurd or incredible stories appearing in
the newspapers, even Municipal Governments stage baffling
practical jokes on their citizens. Never trust the word of a
friend or acquaintance on this day! This is in many ways
similar to April 1st in Britain.
The last day of the year of course brought New
Years Eve or “Nochevieja” with hours of partying before
celebrating the New Year when all Spaniards eat one grape ...
.
 |
...with every chime of the town clock.
 |
|
|
|
As I have said, we now have
Three Kings Day “Los Reyes Magos”
on the 6th January, to look forward
to.
|
Incidentally these are only The National
holidays; localised Bank Holidays happen at any time and can be
disconcerting for travellers.
They vary from the Day of the
Patron Saint in the area to Feria (The Fair) Fiestas
(Parties) ...
and the travelling circus is still a feature of
Spanish life. |
|
|
|
We had a bit of a mixed month weather-wise
beginning with high cold winds from the north and considerable
rain, however by mid month there was a very welcome fortnight of
sunshine albeit
accompanied by
early morning frosts.
|
|
|
|
Over Christmas the weather provided a mixed bag
of sunshine and cloud which at present is continuing.
Still I suppose it is winter.
|
|
|
|
Once more we are being visited by the beautiful
long tailed Magpies
who seem to claw their way into the sky at an angle of 45
degrees each morning at around 8.15.
|
Accompanying the flock of magpies is what can
only be termed a “swarm” of
Wagtails who at this time of year
are ubiquitous.
 |
|
|
|
Plant life is to a large extent having a rest
although the wild geraniums on the roadside verge are profuse.
 |
In the evenings frogs and toads in the Arroyo
serenade us with their croaking chorus . |
|
|
|
Oh well from here on the only way is up!
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
(In the present climate I don’t think I dare say
Prosperous!)
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Spanish Customs |
FESTIVALS |
| |
|
|
|
click for
BIRD WATCHING |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 
Sue says click
for more in her
Spanish Garden:
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
RECIPE (TAPAS)
FOR DECEMBER is
HIGADO AL VINO TINTO
(Liver with Red Wine)
|
which as
you know can be seen in detail
at
MIKE'S TAPAS BAR |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
REMEMBER! To find
a DIARY MONTH from our Newsletter,
just click
DIARY DAYS IN SPAIN
|
And
see more recipes at
MIKE'S TAPAS BAR |
|
and click the Calendars below for our
diary entries... |
click for
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 2008 |
| |
|
©
PLUS
2006