Hi to all another time!! Currently, we are more and more closer to Christmas time. You can walk on the street and you can see shops´ windows decorated, public lights and, of course, there is such particular smell of roast chestnuts. Moreover, there is such cold in the air, with clouds of breathes. Nearly the majority of trees has lost their leaves and Madroño tree(Arbustus unedo) is in fruit. A particular evergreen tree and before common tree in Madrid Region with their red fruits similar to Chinese Lychee(Litchi chinensis) in shape, that probably you may taste because of some chinese restaurant, but surprisingly in English is called as the strawberries-tree. Anyway,I would note that such tree is Madrid city´s symbol with the company of a she-bear, though there is no bear in these moments and is lower and lower Madroño´s distribution. Whatever...
So, we can speak about another subject. Indeed, I was surprised of Santa´s Parades in North America. Because I have some acquaintances from Canada and they told to me 2 weeks ago that they were in one on Toronto (Canada´s capital). I don´t know if it is often in North America to wait until November to do "Winter Parades" but here, in Spain, we have our Christmas Parades on January. So, why are Santa´s Parades made one month before Christmas in North America? Indeed, I remember one in New York City during thanksgiving day according TV news.
Maybe it is very simple to figure out because it is certain that since November everybody begins to buy gifts, goods and decoration and, as it is more and more often to associate holidays with commercial activity, maybe the reason is to improve commercial balance. I don´t know.
Otherwise, I remember now, while I am typing, that these acquaintances told me that is possibly because of cold because they had a lot of cold on November. Thus, with the Parade on November, they avoid snowy environment and more cold. One thing, I am not very sure because such acquaintances are from Spain and they lived 8 months on Toronto. So, I have the doubt.
Today I have set up the post entry before writing and, okay, you will say: he has forgotten the title. Yeah, I don´t because I would introduce to how Christmas is in Spain.
Friday, I could see "El Belen" in my village centre but what is the Belen? "El Belen" is a sort of representation of Jesus born. It is a diorama, a scenario with several buildings, some Romans, some figures of such Age, the Three Wise Men and Jesus and their parents. So, according to the tradition, each family begins to decorate their belen. Somebody build it and nearly the huge majority buy it. Anyway, each Belen has different common things such as the Three Wise Men, Jesus´s parents, their animals and the Star (the Star that guided Three Wise Men to Jesus). Maybe you make yourself the following question: and the Child, where is he? Okay, according to the tradition, we place the child in such representation on 24th December when "he borns". For example, in mass of "El gallo" (coquerel) on midnight 24th to 25th December the priest places the child on Belen of the Church. The most curious is tradition exists from IV century and each person choose how he/she wants to configure their Belen, if they wanted one small, one bigger, with waterfalls, with Romans, with building, which ones figures they will use an so on. Nevertheless, it is more often to watch one in a mall or in a city building (which are the bigger Belen) because modern times make people more lazy and, of course, it is easier to buy a Christmas tree with their decoration, in spite of one home can have a Belen based on Jesus´s parents and Jesus (after 24th) and there is a huge variety of prices.
In the other hand here there wasn´t Santa but Three Wise Men. So, on 6th January there are the gifts because they had left to each children if the children had been good boys (or girls) along the year. However, if they were bad, they have no gifts but a piece of coal. As you can imagine, I guess each children has any gift, despite of economic hole of these moments. I guess I speak about one day before 5th January.
Unfortunately, we lose our traditions because of American fashion. So, we use more and more frequent the Christmas tree and we make gifts on 24th December and don´t on 6th January. It is a pity but times are changing and we must accept without forgetting our past.
Okay, I have finished today, lol. See you later and I hope you have a great week!
P.S.: it is pic of a truth Belen built by http://www.ojodigital.com/foro/off-topic/174135-belen-2007-a.html
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