A slideshow view of the melding of the holiday spirit
It’s a (con)fusion of cultures during the holiday season in Spain. Many Christmas traditions and decorations don’t mean the same thing here as they do in the United States.
This isn’t a “this or that is better” observation. It’s just that, well, it’s different to us from the U.S.. One only needs to note the Black Friday sales – replete with black balloons and other similarly colored trappings. Black Friday falls after Thanksgiving Thursday (U.S.). However, there’s no “Día de Acción de Gracias” holiday in Spain – or Europe for that matter.
In the U.S. Black Friday marks the start of the shopping season. Christmas capitalism runs amok. You’ll even see the sales starting around the end of October (Halloween).
Another borrowed idea is the preponderance of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, or Papá Noel figures. It’s not really indigenous as it’s a northern European/U.S. import. The big day, 6 January, is the “Feast of the Kings,” or “Día de los Reyes Magos.” That’s when gifts are traditionally exchanged.
At any rate this isn’t an exhaustive survey of the history of Christmas in Spain and the Valencian Community. Here’s a quick look in slides at some of the displays around Valencia. Some are long-established, some are more-recent arrivals. And some, well, are just interesting.
A Christmas tree of lights near the “Fuente de las Acequias” in the “Plaza de la Virgen.” Another Christmas tree at Mercat Colon. A Nativity scene in Valencia. The seasonal skating rink set up in the “Plaza del Ayuntamiento” (City Hall Square), Valencia. A giant ornament in the “Plaza del Ayuntamiento” (City Hall Square), Valencia. A view down the street. Santa Claus does a “photo op” with children. Santa’s elf watches over the bar in La Vall d’Uixó. Balconies decorated with poinsettias and other flowers in Gátova. Turrones or candies being packed in Casinos. A recent addition, our Spanish cat.
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