Sevilla Urbany Blog

Christmas is a time to be with family, it is also a time to be with friends celebrating this special time.

For all those that spend Christmas abroad, we will offer an excellent service to all our customers that stay at Urbany Hostel in Seville. Within the hostel there will be a great atmosphere with people from all over the world. There will be sweets and aniseed on offer when you check-in. we hope we can make your Christmas as enjoyable as possible when you visit Urbany Hostel.

Now we are going to explain our traditions, all the curious things that happens at Christmas in Seville

NATIVITY SCENE

The crib or manger is the representation through figurines (plastic, plaster, ceramic, etc) of the birth of Christ. In Seville, there are different Nativity Scenes to visit, but most of the families, have one in their homes. The main set, is the manger, where appear Jesus, Maria and Joseph with an ox and a donkey. Near Urbany Hostel, there are a few and you can visit them. Just ask at reception. They will tell you where they are.

CHRISTMAS EVE

On this night, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, this also is the autumnal equinox (the longest night of the year). This is clearly a religious and Christian day, but for many people this doesn’t have a meaning. This night everybody gathers with their familys to celebrate this special time of the birth of Jesus. We celebrate by having a big dinner and we sing carols. At this time we remember those that have past away. Most people will meet up with there friends after midnight and go out to the clubs, these days not many people go to mass.

ROOSTER’S MASS

The mass is taken place at midnight to welcome Christmas. The legend says that the rooster was the first to know that Jesus was born and it was the rooster that had announced to everyone that Jesus was born, and that is why we called it Rooster’s Mass. There is mass between 8 p.m and midnight.

CHRISTMAS

Navidad means Christmas in Spanish, it came from latin language and it means “birth”. The same as the night before Christmas we gather for lunch and dinner with our family .You will not find any of the Spanish people out working they have the day off as everywhere will be closed. There will be not many bars or restaurants open as there will be no where for you to get food so it would be a good idea if you go to the shops to buy food on the 24^th, so you can cook here in the hostel.

INNOCENT SAINTS’ DAY

This day (28^th of December) is in commemoration of the killing of all the children younger than 2 years old in Bethlehem. That was ordered by Herodes because he wanted to kill Jesus.

To remember this day, in Spain there is a tradition that is to play practical jokes on someone (like April’s Fool’s joke). Currently, we are losing this tradition, although the tv, newspapers and radio always do something really funny.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Like in other countries, we also celebrate the new year. In Spain, it could be a familiar dinner, or with friends. Many people decide to go to a restaurant or a hotel, because they offer dinner and party. In Spain we finish the year, eating 12 grapes, one for every last second of the year. We believe that if we can eat one each stroke and finish the 12 grapes, we will be lucky the incoming year.

Other options rather than eat the grapes, is, depending on the city, go to a public square with a big clock where you can hear the last seconds. In Seville, people go to Plaza Nueva and eat the grapes there. it is a kind of party in the street and you can meet people there.

For all these reasons, we advise our customers to have a dinner in the hostel, or book a restaurant in advance. If you decide to be with us in the hostel, take care and buy everything you need before 7p.m. because supermarkets close early.

Don’t worry about the grapes and cava (Spanish champagne) because we will invite all our customers to the 12 grapes and a glass of cava. We have a tv in the common area, so we can listen the strokes.

After eat grapes, around 1a.m. people go to the clubs, pubs or private parties.

Remember that some people also wear red underwear during this night. If you burn it, you will be lucky the incoming year also!

THE THREE WISE MEN’S NIGHT

The tradition says that three wise men from orient, guide for a star, took to Jesus, gold, incense and myrrh as a present.

For this reason, between history and mythology, when Spanish people wake up on the 6^th of January, we find presents that the three wise men left during the night.

Previously, the 5^th evening, the three wise men go through every village, town and city in Spain, in a parade. They spread everywhere millions of sweets and candy for the people that goes to watch the parade.

MUSIC, INSTRUMENTS, TYPICAL SWEETS AND INTERESTING THINGS

CAROLS: These are traditional songs that talk about Christmas and religion. The origin of these songs, approximately the XII Century, is not as we know, isn’t religious and carols were also dances.

TAMBOURINES: Percussion instrument that we play by beating it or slipping the fingers over the surface.

 ZAMBOMBA: Traditional drum-like instrument. It consists of a wood or ceramic recipient, closed with a piece of leather, and a bar (of wood) going through the leather. To play this instrument, we just have to rub the bar up and down. Zambomba use to be decorated with many colours.

BOTTLE OF ANISETTE: The origin of this instrument is  from the beginning of the XIX Century. We use the bottles that has a bit of relief on the surface, and to play we have to rub the surface with a piece of cutlery.

ASK FOR THE “AGUINALDO”: The 25th of December, children go door by door, asking for the “Aguinaldo”, that is a Christmas bonus. They sing carols with tambourines, “zambombas” and bottles of anisette in exchange of a few coins, or sweets and candy. Actually, not many children follow this tradition for the few last years.

MANTECADOS Y POLVORONES: The origin is clearly andalusian (from Antequera and Estepa), but currently, a typical sweet in the whole country. It is a sweet kneaded with pork’s lard, and there is so many with different flavours. The famous ones are the chocolate, lemon, cinnamon and almond buns.

TURRÓN: This is a nougat candy. It is typical only in Christmas time. It came from Alicante and Jijona, but currently eaten in the whole country. It is a candy made after the cooking of honey, sugar, eggs and toast almond (grinded or not)

 

MARZIPAN: The origin is clearly Arabian. It is a sweet made of almond and sugar, the same quantity of both. It is typical in the whole country, but the famous ones are from Toledo and Soto (La Rioja).

PESTIÑOS: Really typical in the south of Spain. It is a sweet made with flour and sesame, fried with olive oil and cover with honey or sugar. The size and shape change, and you will find it in every andalusian house for Christmas.

ROSCÓN DE REYES: It is a ring-shaped cake, fill up with cream and cover with crystallized fruits. We eat it on the 6^th of January. The origin of it is roman and not Christian. In the middle, mixed with the cream, you will find small presents and a dry bean. If in your piece of cake, you find the dry bean, you will pay for it!!!