El día de los reyes

Now that the holidays are past, and it is back to ¨normal life¨ (...we´re still in Spain, still only working part-time, still spending most of our time studying whatever we want to learn... so it´s not exactly ¨normal life¨ but the fiestas de navidad have come to an end ;) we have been reflecting on some of the delightful experiences we got to share this Christmas.

One difference that I find fascinating is that the Church calendar is so mainstream here: public holidays and festivities coincide with church festivals. And, according to the Church calendar, Christmas starts on Dec.25th and continues until Jan.6th (Epiphany / el día de los reyes). Of course, there are people in Canada who follow this calendar (many of you who are reading this blog, in fact), but there is a different feeling in the air when EVERYONE is on the same page. 

Throughout all 12 days of Christmas (because there literally are 12 days from the 25th to the 6th) there was such a festive atmosphere in the city. And not just people trying to hold on to Christmas a little longer, but the complete understanding that Christmas obviously doesn´t end until the Day of the Kings. No one takes down their decorations, everyone keeps singing villancicos, and no business, school, or university resumes normal hours until after Jan.6th. 

And then on Jan.5th, the final celebrations of Christmas begin to welcome the 3 kings who arrive with presents not only for baby Jesus, but for ALL of the children.

We had the opportunity to go with friends to a celebration at a small convent here in town. Every year a community group prepares a surprise presentation for the nuns, including a play with carols. The play (which many children took part in) was delightful with a very animated retelling of the Christmas story which especially emphasized, of course, the arrival of the 3 kings with their gifts. As the kings entered they showered the crowd with candies and caramels (we were a pretty packed crowd as it is a small space) and then the children (and even some adults) had the chance to sit on a king´s knee and ask for what they wanted for Christmas.

After the kings left (explaining that they needed to go take a siesta before the parade and their very busy night ahead of delivering gifts to all of the children in Spain), everyone squeezed into the dining room to share in a potluck lunch/comida, and then more carols/villancicos. The nuns requested carols in different languages from all of the foreign students, and so Nathan and I sang one or two in English, a friend from Poland sang one of her favorites, and then we all joined in many more in Spanish.

After that celebration we went to a mass, and then to the Cabalgata, which is a massive parade that it seems the whole city turns out for, followed by fireworks, and a dinner among our friends. And then, just as we finished supper, the local neighborhood parade of kings, surrounded by a fairly impressive brass marching band, marched right down our street! So cool! With the crowds at the Cabalgata we had to watch from a distance, but from our third floor balcony we had a perfect view of the local Realejo parade :)

And with that final parade, that finished off our Christmas celebrations :) 

While we certainly missed spending the holidays with our families and friends in Canada and the US along with some of the beautiful traditions that we normally participate in at home, a Spanish Christmas was definitely worth experiencing. :)

We hope you are all keeping well and are refreshed and looking forward to all things to come in this new year!

Love,

Candyce (and Nathan)

Some Holiday Photos:

Advent Wreath :)

City Street Decorations

City Decorations

Nathan´s birthday cake

(Chocolate Black Bean brownie Cake, with Raspberry Filling and Avocado Fudge Icing)

The church where we went to a mass on Jan.5th

La Cabalgata Parade

A better view from higher up...

More fun at the Cabalgata :)

The parade in our street!

View of the snowy Sierra Nevada from the terraza of a friend´s place :)