SPANISH AND CATALAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
CHRISTMAS EVE On Christmas Eve we have a trunk called “cagatió” that symbolizes the nature. During the previous week children feed the trunk in order to get fat so it would “crap” more presents. At night children hit it with a stick singing a song. The “cagatió” “craps” presents for the children as sweets, little toys and Nativity scene figures. Nowadays some families celebrate Father Christmas too.
CHRISTMAS DAY The typical dishes are: - “Galets soup” It is a soup made of a special dough.
- Roasted chicken with plums.
For dessert:
Turrón: It is nougat made of honey, sugar,eggs and toasted almonds. Neules: It is a kind or “rolled” cookies.
BOXING DAY “ SANT ESTEVE” The 26th of December we meet again with the family and the typical food is “canelons”. It is a kind of rolls filled with meat and covered with a milk sauce called “bechamel” and it is grilled with cheese.
NEW YEAR EVE
At midnight we eat 12 grapes following twelve peals.
THE THREE KINGS’ EVE The 5th of January at night we celebrate a “cabalgata”. It is a parade as if The Three Kings arrive at the town to give presents for children.
THE KINGS DAY Children get up early in the morning to open the presents. For dessert we eat “Roscón de Reyes” .In the “cake “ there is a little king and a bean who finds the bean has to pay the “roscón” and who finds the figures is crowned as the King of the day.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FELIZ NAVIDAD BON NADAL
CHRISTMAS CAROL
SILENT NIGHT
SANTA NIT (Catalan)