Spanish Christmas traditions

Although Christmas starts on the 24th for most families, there are some Spanish pre-Christmas traditions. The most important is the Spanish Christmas Lottery, known as  ‘el Gordo’ (the fat one) which is held on the 22nd December and is the biggest lottery worldwide. Apart from that, you usually watch ‘La Gran Familia’, a movie that is on TV every single year.

The night of the 24th is called Nochebuena. Religious people go to the church on the 24th to the ‘Misa del Gallo’ (something similar to midnight mass), but most of the families simply reunite in order to have a huge dinner (and eat way more than is recommended). Although this ‘feast’ may vary, it usually includes some appetizers (mainly Jamón Serrano), seafood, soups, lamb and a typical Christmas dessert (turrón and/or polvorones).

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A few local favourites in Barcelona

Home to one of our most popular language schools (and my very own big sister) Barcelona is always worth visiting, especially if you are living there as a student on a Spanish language course! I have personally visited Barcelona about 10 times now and even after being back home for just one week, I can’t wait until I have the opportunity to return again. There is just so much to see and do and experience for not only the tourist, but also those that live there, discovering new things every week or even every day.

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Exploring Madrid – La Latina!

If you are planning on going to Madrid, there is a neighbourhood you absolutely need to visit. It is located in the old town of the city, has some of the most beautiful medieval streets in the world and hosts the best Tapas bars in the Spanish capital. Its name is no other than La Latina.

La Latina is one of the most genuinely authentic neighbourhoods of Madrid. On Sundays, the biggest open-air flea market in Spain is held in its grounds – El Rastro de Madrid. Whether you are looking for a new painting to decorate your walls, browse rare books, vintage clothes or even buy a new pet, you can be sure that you will be able to find it in El Rastro!

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¡Viva San Fermín!

San Fermín, one of the biggest and most impressive parties in the world, takes place every year in Pamplona, Navarra from 6 July to 14 July.

After spending three days in Pamplona, I came to the conclusion that I will never be able to thank my friend enough for inviting me to San Fermín.

The first thing I needed to do in order to enjoy San Fermín as a true Pamplonica was dressing in white while wearing a red scarf. Once I satisfied this condition, I was ready to go!

Witnessing the Chupinazo, in which a rocket is launched to mark the opening of the festival, is simply breathtaking. You cannot imagine how many people actually manage to fit in the Town Hall square until you go see it yourself!

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Incredible Malaga

It has been quite a long time since we’ve posted about Malaga and although I personally hadn’t visited this historic city before, I thought I knew all there was to know since it is one of our most popular locations – and home to one of the very best Spanish schools in Spain! I certainly didn’t realise how fascinating the city itself was, or how special it is for the visitor that wants it all – great food, historic landmarks, large city nightlife and vast stretches of beach.

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Sevilla tiene un color especial!

If you enjoy watching expert equestrian riders, amazing (but also controversial) bullfighters, flamenco dancers and huge parties, the Feria will definitely not disappoint you!

The Seville April Fair (Feria de Abril) is held this week in Seville, Andalusia. This year we see it taking place from 16th to 21st April, two weeks after Easter Holy Week (Semana Santa de Sevilla).

Officially, this year’s amazing fiesta began on Monday at midnight with the prueba del alumbrado (lighting test), in which thousands of colored light bulbs were lit around the main gate of the city.

The Feria will run for six days and starts with a parade of flower decorated carriages with expert riders, carrying Sevillian dignitaries through the city towards the Spain’s oldest and most unforgiving bullring (La Real Maestranza).

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Valencia’s amazing zoo!

Anyone familiar with Valencia will know that the city has some amazing attractions. You could spend several days exploring the futuristic buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences, the beach is stunning with miles of golden sand and who wouldn’t enjoy the simple pleasure of enjoying a coffee as you watch the world go by in the sunny Plaza de la Virgen.

What you may not be so familiar with is Valencia’s amazing zoo.  This zoological wonder was opened in 2008, and is built in the gardens created from the bed of the old River Turia.

To simply call this attraction a zoo is really an unfair description, and in my opinion, doesn’t do justice to the either the animal or visitor experience. The ‘zoo’ is in fact a state of the art ‘bioparc’, advertised as being the most advanced in Europe.

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El Caganer – Christmas in Catalonia!

One of the most universally recognised symbols of Christmas is the traditional nativity scene: Mary and Joseph; the newborn baby Jesus; and the three Kings and other well-wishers that have come to bestow gift s on the child.

However, in Catalonia, another figure hides at the back of the scene. El Caganer is a uniquely Catalan character, who is depicted in the process of defecating.

A humorous character, the caganer is not intended to cause offence.

His place within the holy scene may seem a little strange, but in Catalan tradition this symbolises the fertilisation of the earth, and is supposed to bring a successful harvest for the following year, as well as luck and happiness to loved ones.

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The Great Bilbao!

While you are in Bilbao you will hear for sure: “el Gran Bilbao”, as locals call their city. Its locals tend to think that their city is the best in the world, and you will always listen how they talk about the city in a very proud way! At the beginning I thought that my host family and the school were just exaggerating about the city, but then I realized they were talking seriously!!! After enjoying a month in the Great Bilbao I could understand why they talked in such a way about Bilbao.

First of all, the city has loads of things to do and see, as you could expect from a quite big city like this (don’t forget the Geggenheim museum). In addition to that, you can enjoy going to one of the nearby sandy beaches, going to the nearby green and fresh mountains or just going for a walk along the Ría of Bilbao. However, Bilbao is a city you really need to EXPERIENCE. I was there in August, in my opinion, a good time of the year for visiting this city.

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Just arrived in Barcelona!

Despite feeling nervous this morning before leaving the UK, I am now in Barcelona and I am delighted to say that the journey went very smoothly. I found myself in the city centre after a short and comfortable 30 minute journey on the ‘Aerobus’ from outside the airport costing only €4.75!

Once I arrived into “Plaza Catalunya” it was a short walk to my apartment, which is located very centrally and is just on the edge of the stunning “El Barrio Gotico.” The apartment is very stylish, I have a large bedroom with a double bed and a desk, a bathroom with a bath and a shower and the walls are covered with beautiful paintings and traditional Spanish style rugs.

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