Spain is into the Nativity in a big way. You can't move for nativities. Stables everywhere. Wise men roaming the streets, confused because the sky at night here is never dark enough to show the stars. Shepherds, just shepherds. It's becoming a problem.
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| at the corte ingles |
Not really. And I guess a lot of people could say that it's good that they are keeping the Christ in Christmas and all that jazz but to be honest it mostly seems out of tradition/habit (whichever is least offensive) that shops and businesses have nativity scenes on display. Sometimes it's just shoehorned in to the side of the window. In a launderette's window I saw a manger scene displayed inside a washing machine drum. The world says why, Sevilla says why not.
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| at the city council buildings |
It's a tradition in southern Europe to not just show the manger and the holy family, but the entire town of Bethlehem. It makes for some impressive and busy nativity scenes.
One of the most interesting things I've seen in the run up to Christmas here are the nativity markets around the Cathedral. They appeared before the lights and really showed me just how important the nativity is to Spanish people in their Christmas traditions. I was reminded of a huge Legoland-esque model of what seemed to be the entirety of Bethlehem I saw in Lanzarote a few years ago, I can only imagine that these stalls have councils and businesses in mind with some of their products, I'd be shocked if people went to this much trouble in their own homes and gardens. You never know I suppose. While I was waiting to buy something (a present) the other day a couple spent €60 on a set of figures and a stable.
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| This pooing figure is often hidden in a nativity scene. It's a Catalan tradition you can read about here |
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| There were 8 baby penguins present at the birth of Jesus Christ. Hashtag accuracy. |
The attention to detail is unreal, it's like shopping to furnish a giant religious doll's house. (the house is religious, the doll whose house it is doesn't necessarily have to be religious). There are a number of cribs that have electric lights and a few water features like wells and streams, just so your Bethlehem is better than your neighbours'.
Well amigos, that's all of my Christmassy posts done. Now all I have to do is finish wrapping presents, iron my wet clothes until they're dry enough to pack, eat all the food in my fridge and it's home to Ireland mañana. *squeals excitedly and skips away*
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| falalalala lalalala |
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