New Year in Spain

New Year in Spain is celebrated noisily, because the Spaniards- people are temperamental. A fairly warm weather (the air temperature in winter can sometimes reach +20 ° C, even in the north of the country) only contributes to popular festivities. At home at the New Year's table, few people sit up: Strong Spaniards prefer homemade gatherings bright carnivals and street processions, in which there is no shortage.

At all, the holy season in Spain (Duodenario mistico - sacred twelve days) begins Catholic Christmas (evening of December 24), and ends Baptism (Bethany), which is celebrated on the following Sunday after January 6 (Epiphany). By the way, children in Spain receive gifts not on Christmas or on St. Nicholas Day, namely in the Epiphany. And they bring the Magi Balthasar, Caspar and Melchior (the Spaniards call them kings-magicians - Los Reyes Magos), so this holiday is better known as The Day of the Magi.

If you find yourself in Spain December 28th, be on the alert. On this day the Spaniards mark the analogue of our First of April, Fools' day. So do not believe what is written on this day inlocal newspapers, stunning news may well turn out to be a holiday bluff. And be careful in the streets so that children do not glue anything to your clothes.

New Year in Spain is best to meet in the city square. Do not forget to grab a bunch of grapes: Spaniards with every stroke of the clock eat grapesthat in the new year their cherisheda wish. In this case, you need to have time to spit out the bone, until the clock stops beating. And with the last blow begin songs, dances and fireworks. You can uncork champagne and congratulate all friends and strangers who are with you on the same square.

Deciding to celebrate the New Year in the Spanish capital,Madrid, try to choose a hotel as close as possible to the Puerta del Sol. First, most of the main attractions are concentrated in this area. Secondly, The New Year's Eve is best spent on the Puerta del Sol, escorting the chiming of the old year and meeting a new one. True, if large crowds of people do not like you, this may not be the best option: the crowd will be large.

If you have this opportunity, try after the New Year celebration Stay in Spain for at least another week, until the Day of the Magi. This holiday the Spaniards celebrate not less violently and cheerfully than the New Year. In the cities there are spectacular carnivals, which are especially fond of children, because duringCarnival in the streets scatter sweets and sweets. Usually such a parade is opened by musicians - drummers and a brass band - and after them carriages with festively dressed participants of the procession are going. A close procession (the length of which is sometimes several kilometers) is a chic coach with three Kings-Magi, who give their children toys and treats.

A festive meal on this day includes cakes called "the circle of wizards". These big cakes do havea round shape, and inside a baked surprise (usually a small coin). One who will get a piece of a pie with a coin will be accompanied by luck. But for this he next year should all treat such a cake.

And to somehow pass the time between the New Year and the Day of the Magi, you can travel around the country. To go on trips to Spain is best in winter - in the summer, under the scorching sun, a surveyattractions can bring much less pleasure. So do not miss the opportunity to combine the New Year in Spain with a sightseeing tour of major cities in the country (Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Granada, Valencia, etc.).

And in Spain there is even a ski resort! Despite the fact that the Sierra Nevada mountain range is located in the south of the country, you can quite enjoy skiing on its snow-covered slopes - a variety of trails will pleasantly surprise you. By the way, Sierra Nevada is the southernmost ski resort in the territory of Europe.

New Year in Spain - a holiday is noisy and cheerful, so do not miss the opportunity to recharge your mood for a whole year. Just take more clothes with you: in winter the weather in Spain is very changeable, so you can easily get into both + 15 ° C and -4 ° C - it's as lucky.