Some snippets of the culture of Christmas in Catalunya

I thought you might enjoy these snippets of how the Catalan people enjoy the festive season;

• From 1st December Catalan children feed a hollow log with orange peel and bread every day without fail and they hope that on Christmas Eve the log will poo sweets for them.
• The Nativity scene is traditionally the centre of Christmas decorations in a Catalan house, and will always incorporate the pooing man in the corner of the stable.
  
• On Christmas eve it is not uncommon to see shoes outside houses in the towns and villages of Catalonia, as the children also hope these will be filled with sweets, when they go to get them of Christmas morning.
• Christmas Eve is also the time when friends get together in large numbers to celebrate with a special meal. This meal is made up of fish and seafood, cava and turron.
• Christmas Day traditionally is not celebrated in the way we do. The main meal will be family only and based around pasta.
• Mistletoe has the same meaning here as in other parts of the world, however only if it is given to you be a friend. If you buy it yourself the magic powers of the mistletoe will not work.
• The Catalan people celebrate New Years Eve with gusto holding large parties and drinking to excess. At midnight it is the tradition to go to the main village or town square and to eat one grape on the peel of each bell at midnight to give you good luck, health and happiness for the coming year. This does take place in Freginals.
• Traditionally the main celebration for the children takes place on the evening of the 6th January with the arrival of the three kings, and presents. All of the towns and villages arrange big parades for this, with the kings arriving by many means of transport such as the sea, river, and horses etc. The arrival of the kings is followed by a celebratory meal for the extended family in the home or local restaurant.
• The 7th January sees the start of the sales in the shops, which generally last for one month (credit crisis excepted)

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - Bon Nadal.