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Canarian Christmas |
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| Canarian
Christmas °Recipes A Canarian Christmas
Nochebuena/ Christmas Eve |
It wasn't many years ago that you wouldn't even see a single Christmas light in the streets or decoration in the stores until
mid-December, but that is gradually changing and will soon be back to August along with the rest of the world. Likewise, it
used to be hard to find such rarity as a Christmas card or plastic decorations saying "Merry Christmas", but they have
arrived for all but those of us intent to avoid them! Christmas trees with all their trimmings are an essential, as are the native Poinsettia plants -- every home must have one at Christmas. Equally essential is the Nativity or Belén (Bethlehem), which in most homes, is arranged under the tree. This particularly stands testament to the fact that Christmas is very much for kids, for these days the Holy Family may well be visited by shepherds & magi, as well as the occasional Jedi, Barbie doll ... Lego stables are not unheard of. But the organised Nativity displays are something else. Town Halls and Associations abound, whose massive works of art compete each year to be the biggest and best. Not just scenes, these are whole Holy model towns. If you can get to see one, it's worth the trip. If not, but you can mouse click in Spanish, here is a great selection of photographic records of these beautiful homages. The Asociación de Belenistas de La Rioja in Logroño, northern Spain http://geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/9430 Esglesia.org Catholic Links to more Belen sites http://www.esglesia.org/belenes-.htm La Página Navideña - Belenes http://www.terra.es/personal/7sietes/belenes.htm. Carol singing, Villancicos are just as important. You can find a huge selection of carols in Spanish and Latin -- with music (also some in English, French and German) http://www.terra.es/personal/7sietes/villacas.htm La Navidad Latina. More carols, Christmas Music, Traditions, History, Recipes, Stories & Poems, Virtual Postcards and loads of kids' stuff -- all in Spanish from Spain, Portugal and South America, but hey a mouse click is a mouse click and you'll enjoy the music! http://www.navidadlatina.com The first hints of the month-long season come with two holidays in early December: Constitution Day on December 6 and the Immaculate Conception on December 8, but the real "Big Bang" opening to Christmas comes on December 22, when El Gordo, the world's richest lottery is drawn. It means "The Fat One" and it certainly is, with huge prize money and the best odds. Tickets anyone? http://www.club-lotto.com/Elgordo.htm |
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