Well,
For those of us that are fortunate to make our villa’s warm and cosy this Winter.. Watch our Christmas TV Specials with a tree all decorated, is it as good as we remember or need it to be ?
What I mean is can it be, with a little bit of work?

I personally feel that this time of year is the most hardest, globally, for anyone that has moved from their Country of Birth when Christmas comes around..

Do you have those crazy little Christmas shops opening up closer to time ?
Where do you get your trees from, or is it plastic ??

I would love to hear from you all, as I need to improve on what I’ve experienced in the past.

Christmas in Spain..

Cheers,
DSB.

Malaga is a great place for christmas, not the 25th of December but the kings.

They spend a fortune on lights in the city.

When the Kings arrive all the kids are fighting for the sweets, its a great event.

The nativity is at home, with the little statues of guys peeing in the stream and santa taking a s88t, don`t ask me why.

We have a plastic tree which we bought in Spain.

Its great.

Really warm and sunny most of the time.

Santi - 01 September 2009 01:42 PM

Malaga is a great place for christmas, not the 25th of December but the kings.

They spend a fortune on lights in the city.

When the Kings arrive all the kids are fighting for the sweets, its a great event.

The nativity is at home, with the little statues of guys peeing in the stream and santa taking a s88t, don`t ask me why.

We have a plastic tree which we bought in Spain.

Its great.

Really warm and sunny most of the time.

Crazy, or at least different to have the heat isn’t it..
Malaga sounds kickin’....

DSB.

bealer - 01 September 2009 02:41 PM

Malaga sounds kickin’....

DSB.

Its good, but you have to change to the surroundings and local customs.

We visited Granada several times and got the snow fix, but it can be busy.

The Kings visit Malaga via the port and parade around the city, it gets thousands watching.

We didn`t bother with trying to have a UK xmas, there wasn`t a Turkey in sight, we usually had a Paella or Arroz a la Banda in one of the beach Chiringuitos with family and friends.

Gifts were given, but not in the usual quantity in the UK, that was left until Kings.

There is no Boxing day in Spain, I always had work, so didn`t really feel that Christmasy until Kings night.

I think one mistake Expats make is trying to bring the UK to Spain, I forgot and left UK customs for when I visited the UK, you`ll only fail if you try to have a UK christmas in Spain.

Unless you live in Guirilandia and go to the local bar for traditional meal and celebration, but whats the point, you may as well have stayed in the UK if your that inclined.

Santi - 01 September 2009 02:56 PM

bealer - 01 September 2009 02:41 PM

Malaga sounds kickin’....

DSB.

Its good, but you have to change to the surroundings and local customs.

We visited Granada several times and got the snow fix, but it can be busy.

The Kings visit Malaga via the port and parade around the city, it gets thousands watching.

We didn`t bother with trying to have a UK xmas, there wasn`t a Turkey in sight, we usually had a Paella or Arroz a la Banda in one of the beach Chiringuitos with family and friends.

Gifts were given, but not in the usual quantity in the UK, that was left until Kings.

There is no Boxing day in Spain, I always had work, so didn`t really feel that Christmasy until Kings night.

I think one mistake Expats make is trying to bring the UK to Spain, I forgot and left UK customs for when I visited the UK, you`ll only fail if you try to have a UK christmas in Spain.

Unless you live in Guirilandia and go to the local bar for traditional meal and celebration, but whats the point, you may as well have stayed in the UK if your that inclined.

Good point on all counts / Thanks.
DSB.

Christmas in Spain is completely different compared to our Christmas. Above all they have other traditions than we have. They do not even have our typical Santa Clause, there it is called Papa Noel. They are so different from what we are, not only in their way of celebrating but with their mentality. Compared to us, they are not that open but very friendly. Living there means changing your behavior and your way of living life completely.

There is no Papa Noel, th the translation of Father Christmas.

Olentxero is the Basque version of Father Christmas, he`s basically a Basque farmer and is based on Paganism.

He arrives on the 24 and can be seen in most Basque towns giving presents from the back of his cart, he has a bull, not reindeer.

Christmas in Spain is based on the catholic religon and gifts are given at the time the three wise men or Kings are believed to have arrived at the birth place of Jesus.The 25 th being the date of the birth and is a far more religious based celebration.

60   Days   Countdown to Christmas

Christmas is very different here (warmer, for one thing!) It’s nice to go home for Christmas but for the past 10 years or so it’s been just another working day!