New Year in Spain

New Year in Spain certainly can not be called a family celebration, here it is a true national festival. Here this holiday is celebrated in a special way, in accordance with the ardent temperament and ardent temper of the local residents.

Snow rarely falls here, but the festive atmosphere is not lost at all - everything is sparkling with multicolored lights of illuminations, showcases and apartment houses are adorned, and the streets are full of cheerful and smiling people who love and know how to have fun.

It's not in the traditions of the Spaniards to spend New Year's eve at a lavish meal - a few light snacks and one main dish, sweets - that's all you can see on the New Year's table of Spaniards, and, of course, a lot of wine and champagne. A richer dinner with an abundance of festive dishes is arranged on the eve of Catholic Christmas.

New Year in Barcelona

Barcelona buzzes on New Year's Eve

New Year in Madrid

In general, the Spaniards used to meet the New Year in a very noisy and mass manner in the main squares of cities around the New Year tree. Although at home many prefer not to put a traditional coniferous tree, but buy a beautiful Christmas flower - poinsettia. Probably, that's why the local Father Frost, who is called, Papa Noel or Olentzero leaves gifts on the balcony.

And if it's customary for us to drink a sparkling wine under the battle of chimes, then in Spain at this time it is necessary to have time to eat twelve grapes, which symbolize a happy life in all twelve months of the coming year, and to those who were lucky enough to have time to eat all the berries, cherished desire.

Although, according to the Spanish belief, that wishes really come true, it is necessary to put on new clothes in the New Year's Eve and always red. Also, to live happily next year, one must eat one of the national delicacies - halva with nuts, dried fruits or chocolate, since it was thought from the earliest days that it brings happiness and prosperity to the house.

A very interesting Spanish New Year's tradition is a kind of lottery - on the scraps of paper the names of all young men and girls are written, then the bundles with names are added to two baskets, separate male and female names, after which each draws a package with the name of his companion or companion. Sometimes, in this way, couples are formed, which later bind themselves to marriage.

The celebration of the New Year often takes place right on the street, everyone is having fun with the soul, arranging various processions and carnivals, universal dances-and always this is accompanied by continuous rumble of salutes and various pyrotechnic shows.

New Year in Madrid