Some Spanish Traditions

For New Year's Eve we went to Madrid where the festivities seemed to center around La Plaza Mayor. As you might guess from the picture, it is common to wear funny hair. We picked up a couple of wigs from the kiosks in the center of the plaza. In the evening, there is a live broadcast from the La Plaza Mayor as the midnight hour nears. They have a stage set up, and an ensemble of pop singers. About two thirds of the songs are in English with many taken from the group Abba and the show Grease. When it is finally midnight, it is traditional to pop a grape in your mouth for each of the twelve tolls of the bell. The supermarkets sell special cylindrical containers set with 12 grapes ready for the ceremony. If you watch on tv, as soon as the bell starts tolling, they put a picture of a chewing cow in the corner whose cheeks gradually puff out.



The 5th of January is also a special day in Spain. This is when "Los Tres Reyes Magos" (the 3 kings) come to the children of spain. There are many parades where candy is thrown out into the crowd. The parades always end with the 3 kings riding on the last float. The parade in the picture was in Salamanca, a city known for its University. On the night of the 5th you are suppose to put shoes outside of your front door to let the kings know that there are kids in the house. Then the kings leave presents for the kids (or Carbon if the kids are bad). Many Spanish kids don't get any presents from Santa Clause (Papa Noel), but just get their presents from the 3 kings. My kids must have been pretty good because the kings got my son a watch and a dragon sword, and they got my daughter a traditional spanish outfit. My behavior must have been questionable, because the kings didn't leave anything for me.