Spain is known worldwide for its crazy festivals and abundance of local traditions but what Spaniards tend to do (and celebrate) during the time of reflection over the Advent season beats it all! If you want to know some of the strangest Christmas traditions in Spain, keep on reading:

 

Searching for the Caganer

This little porcelain figure is found with its pants down pooping somewhere in the nativity scene. What sounds like an invention from Kenny & Co. from South Park is an old beloved Christmas tradition in Catalonia, the northern region of Spain. Usually placed a bit off the side of the traditional scene, the caganer keeps Mary, Joseph and Jesus company and the children in Catalonia love to search for him. The caganer is said to have been first introduced into the nativity scene during the Barroque period at the beginning of the 18^th century. This time was characterized by extreme realism and descriptions of home-life and local customs were picked up from Spanish artists. The “daily life” became an important role in the art scene and the caganer was supposed to add a human side to the representation of the mystery of Christmas. Still though, many foreigners might wonder why a peasant figure is defecating in a scene which is considered to be the most holy one of all lifetime…

 

Beating the Caga Tío

As one tradition including human excrements wouldn’t be enough, the Catalan people have added another custom to their festivity calendar – the caga tío (‘Poo Log’). This small log with a smiley face and a traditional red Catalan hat is given to the children on the 8^th of December (el Día de la Inmaculada). From that day on until Christmas Eve children are taking care of the caga tío covering him with a blanket and feeding him every day with traditional sweets such as turrón to make sure he’s well. This lovely caring abruptly ends on the evening of the 24^th of December when the children are given a stick after the Christmas dinner with which they start beating the caga tío in order to make it “shit” some sweets and presents. During the process they are singing songs to encourage the caga tío:

“Caga Tio avellanes I torró
Si no vols cagar
Et donanem un cop de pal.”

“Caga Tio hazelnuts and turron
If you don’t want to poo
We will hit you with a stick”

After finishing the song, the children lift the blanket and find sweets and little presents.

 

Fooling others

In Spain April Fool’s Day is celebrated on the 28^th of December. The Day of the Holy Innocents (Día de los Santos Inocentes) has its origin in biblical times when King Herald ordered to kill all children in Bethlehem less than two years old around the time of Jesus’ birth. Named after those innocent victims that were simply too young to have committed any sins, this religious holiday is nowadays celebrated with playing practical jokes at each other. In former times Spanish children used to go from house to house singing Christmas songs and asking for sweets, similar to the American tradition of Halloween. In their songs they were asking for a “payment” (aguinaldo) which they received in form of sweets (dulces) like mazapán and polvorones.  Today Spanish people are content with sticking paper cut-outs on people’s back, hiding one’s belongings or publishing foolish news in the media.

 

Wearing red underwear

Most of the people in this world drink sparkling wine, throw firecrackers and play games with friends and family on New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) – except of the people in a small village close to Valencia! Countering these boring traditions, the inhabitants of La Font de la Figuera put on their best red underwear and run through the streets of their lovely little hometown.  Even the children are participating in this 30-years-old-tradition. Initially just an idea of two teenagers, the run became an annual event open to everyone and has its starting point at the town hall’s square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento). If you have decided now to get undressed with the locals this year and you would catch a cold afterwards, you can’t say that we didn’t warn you – it might be freezing cold!

 

Gobbling grapes

The rest of Spain wears red underwear too (as they believe that brings luck for the New Year) but it turns the celebrations of Nochevieja more into a familial event than a public one. Don’t be surprised to find a lot of bars and restaurants to be closed that night. Spaniards usually stay at home to have a big dinner with the whole family and watch TV at midnight to listen to the strokes of the clock from Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. It is traditional to eat 12 grapes, one on each chime of the clock. For each grape swallowed, you will have a month’ good luck in the New Year. This tradition was initiated 100 years ago by some farmers in the region of Valencia that had too many grapes left over after the harvest and just decided to eat them themselves at midnight of Nochevieja. If you are planning on going to Madrid for New Year, be careful while waiting for the gong of the clock with your hand full of grapes. There are four little strokes to announce the actual start of the main chimes at midnight. If you start eating your grapes too early you will be dogged by bad luck in 2013! Only after the whole grape-ceremony do Spanish people go out to meet their friends and party the night away whether in the streets or in clubs.

¡Feliz Navidad Y Prospero Año Nuevo!

spanish, spain, christmas

christmas in spain, christmas traditions, navidad