世界各国圣诞传统习俗之西班牙圣诞节
a spanish christmas 西班牙圣诞节
in spain different set of gift-giving traditions exists. the holiday season extends to jan. 6, known as three kings day or the epiphany.1 it is not until three kings day that spanish children receive their gifts. on the eve of the epiphany, children set out a pair of shoes to be filled with treats2 by the three kings. usually, three plates of food and three glasses of wine are left out for the visitors, and the waiting shoes are often stuffed with straw for the camels the magi ride.3
although gifts are not given until three kings day, the spanish still celebrate on christmas day. one of the most important christmas traditions is the construction of the nativity scene, which depicts the stable christ was born in, complete with parents, angels and animals.4 these scenes are often elaborate and require a good deal of materials and craftsmanship.5 the need for building materials gave rise to6 another spanish tradition: the christmas market. these outdoor markets consist of a series of booths7 set up on streets and in squares. the booths sell everything from ornaments and small gifts to figures and building materials for the nativity scenes.
the spanish have a number of unique dishes that are traditionally served on christmas. while some serve turkey, the worldwide favorite, many prefer a distinctly spanish menu. this meal would consist of almond8 soup followed by seafood. for desert, a candy called marzipan9 is served. marzipan is made from almonds, eggs and sugars.
in spain it is a very festive time at christmas. on christmas eve, as the stars come out, tiny oil lamps are lit in every house, and after midnight mass and christmas dinner, streets fill with dancers and onlookers. there is a special christmas dance called the jota and the words and music have been handed down for hundreds of years. they dance to the sound of guitars and castanets.
children think of the three wise man as the gift bearers. tradition has it that they arrive on january 6th, the date the wise men gave gifts to jesus.
shoes are filled with straw or barley for the tired camels that must carry their riders through the busy night. by morning the camel food is gone and in place of the straw or barley are presents. shoes also may be placed on balconies on the night of the 6th january in the hope that the wise men will fill them with gifts.
most homes have a manger, like cathedrals and churches. these are complete with carved figures.
during the weeks before christmas, families gather around their manger to sing, whilst children play tambourines and dance.
the spanish especially honor the cow at christmas because it is thought that when mary gave birth to jesus the cow in the stable breathed on the baby jesus to keep him warm.
christmas is a deeply religious holiday in spain. the country's patron saint is the virgin mary and the christmas season officially begins december 8, the feast of the immaculate conception. it is celebrated each year in front of the great gothic cathedral in seville with a ceremony called los seises or the "dance of six." oddly, the elaborate ritual dance is now performed by not six but ten elaborately costumed boys. it is a series of precise movements and gestures and is said to be quite moving and beautiful.
christmas eve is known as nochebuena or "the good night." it is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. a traditional christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.
december 28 is the feast of the holy innocents. young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.
the children of spain receive gifts on the feast of the epiphany. the magi are particularly revered in spain. it is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to bethlehem every year at this time. children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley or the horses of the wise men. their favorite is balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.
the spanish christmas is navidad, people go to church, exchange presents, and many play on swing sets set up especially for the occasion. swinging at solstice time evokes an ancient desire to encourage the sun, urging it to "swing" ever higher in the sky.
notes:
1. extend: 延续；three kings day: 三圣节，又称epiphany（主显节），基督教纪念耶稣向世人显现的节日，通常在每年1月6日。
2. treat: 好东西。
3. 通常，三盘食物和三杯酒是为招待三位访客特意留下的，准备（装礼物）的鞋子中一般都会填满稻草以供东方三博士所骑的骆驼食用。magi: 东方三博士，为《圣经》中人物，指向初生的耶稣朝拜献礼的东方三圣，下文中提到的the three wisemen与此同义。
4. nativity scene: 也作nativity play，圣诞剧，关于耶稣诞生的戏剧，通常由儿童在圣诞节期间演出；depict: 描述；stable: 马厩，根据《圣经》记载，耶稣诞生在马厩中。
5. elaborate: 精心计划或制作的；craftsmanship: 技能，技术。
6. give rise to: 引起，导致。
7. booth: 货摊，摊位。
8. almond: 杏仁。