Christmas in Spain has its own traditions. One of the most beautiful ones is that we adorn our houses with Nativity scenes. Those nativity scenes are made up with small figures representing the main characters in Bethlehem.
The crib is, naturally the centre of the nativity scene, and around it we place figurines representing shepherds, goats and sheep, the three Wise Men carrying presents, angels, and all sorts of people. In some houses setting up the Nativity scene takes days and involves creating a landscape with rivers, mountains, stars, paths, and trees.
Nowadays many families get presents at Christmas' Eve or Christmas morning, but in the most Spanish tradition presents arrive in January 6th, carried by the three wise men.
To get their presents children have to write a letter to the Three Wise Men. If they had been good they get presents, if not, they get sweet black coal. If you are lucky you get both. The three Wise Men travel with their caravans of camels laden with presents and arrive in Spain in January 5th. That evening they parade along the streets so that children can see them and ask for last minute presents and then they spend the night going from house to house leaving their presents.
And in Christmas what we eat all the time is "turron", a sweet made with almonds which is only eaten at Christmas. There are many types of turron, and they are all delicious.
To get their presents children have to write a letter to the Three Wise Men. If they had been good they get presents, if not, they get sweet black coal. If you are lucky you get both. The three Wise Men travel with their caravans of camels laden with presents and arrive in Spain in January 5th. That evening they parade along the streets so that children can see them and ask for last minute presents and then they spend the night going from house to house leaving their presents.
