Despite international and national pressure, these brutal events continue due to the substantial spin-off business revenue. Obviously the most well-known tradition, few realize the blood sport is financed with public money. “Bullfighting is a stumbling block for the humanization of man.” Eduardo del Rio, Mexican Author
Despite the growing popular opposition, these traditions are tenaciously hanging on in over 10,000 towns and villages who fight to protect their bloody heritage.
Small town ignorance has a lot to do with these traditions persisting but the Spanish animal rights movement is gaining ground thanks to groups like Igualdad Animal and Anima Naturalis. Surprisingly, the Spanish government subsidizes many of these events as valuable “cultural” heritage. Deeply implanted in Spanish culture are some of the most offensive animal cruelty traditions known to modern man. In addition to these two classic attractions, other activities include the Christmas competitions organised at the Nuevo Centro shopping centre with prizes for the winners, as well as a children’s fair in the centre’s outdoor plaza.Īnother traditional feature of the festive season is the arrival of the most famous circuses, with Gran Circo Mundial, Gran Circo Wonderland, Circo Gran Fele and Gran Circo Americano returning year after year.Spain is renowned for its beauty and romantic character, but a long shadow lingers over this rich Mediterranean nation. Nowadays it includes a large funfair with something to suit everyone, as well as tombolas and stalls selling typical sweets. Although it was originally a livestock fair, it slowly turned into a fair selling articles for children, painted nativity figures, toy drums, tambourines and maracas. Now in its 26th year, the expo is expected to be a great success as in previous years.Īnother important event is the traditional Christmas Fair which has been held every year for more than a century. The biggest of these is Expojove, which will be held from 26 December to 4 January at Feria Valencia and involves all types of fun activities aimed at children. But there’s also a bean hidden inside the cake, and the person who gets the bean has to promise to buy next year’s cake.īut if Christmas is really for anyone, it's for children, and many institutions take advantage of the school holidays to organise events aimed specifically at kids. The cake contains a small surprise, and the person who finds it is crowned King of the house. This is a ring-shaped sponge decorated with candied fruit, a symbol of the rubies and emeralds that decorated the dazzling gowns of the Magi. The holiday season ends with another culinary tradition on 6 January with the famous “Roscón de Reyes” cake, named after the Kings. Some of these letters will have been handed personally to the Kings’ Viziers in the city’s shopping centres some days previously, and others dropped in the city's post boxes. This evening of high excitement culminates the next morning when children wake up to the presents they asked for in their letters. Afterwards, the City Hall opens its doors so that their Majesties, sat in the Salón de Cristal, can receive all those children who want to speak to them and receive a present. There, they stand on the balcony of the City Hall and say a few words to the cheering crowd below. Once the New Year has started, there’s a very special day for children on 5 January when, at around 5 O’clock in the afternoon, their Majesties the Three Kings disembark in the Port of Valencia before parading through the city’s streets to Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Another Christmas Day tradition is for children to receive an “Estrena”, a small gift or sum or money, from their close family members. The singing at the Christmas Day Mass is also performed by this illustrious Choir. The most important Midnight Mass is held in the Cathedral and features the Cathedral Choir, whose traditional carols and other Christmas songs make this a unique celebration. On the 24th and 25th, people serve up typical dishes such as lamb, bream, Christmas stew, seafood, Spanish shortbread biscuits known as “polvorones”, marzipan and traditional Spanish nougat or “turrones”, all washed down with wine and the traditional glass of cava or sparkling cider, which is supposed to bring good luck.Īnother tradition which takes place at midnight in all the city’s churches is the Midnight Mass or “Misa del Gallo” in Spanish, so called because the cockerel (“gallo”) was said to be the first creature to witness the birth of Christ and announce it to the world. On the evening of the 24th it is traditional for families to get together to enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner. CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY - 24 and 25 December
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