"Xmas customs" Isla de Tenerife Local Custom Tip by annase

Spanish Xmas celebrations stretch from 22 December, when the big lottery draw (El Gordo, the Fat One) takes place to 6 January, when the presents are customarily unwrapped. El Gordo is one of the largest lotteries in the world and thousands of people win each year.

Nativity scenes with figurines are laid out on a table at home as well as in the public places such as squares. There is no limit to their degree of elaboration. Public squares usually feature life-size figures and there are silent, living representations in public halls.

One the most quirkier customs I came across involves a figurine of a yule log. Such things were on sale at the Christmas markets of Barcelona. Apparently, the log is being beaten by children and it then "poos" delicacies such as turron (hard Spanish nougat made of honey, egg and almonds) and marzipan =)

Between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, there's still time to fit in another celebration. The equivalent of April's Fools Day takes place in Spain on 28 December. It's known as "el día de los Santos Inocentes" (Holy Innocents' day).