Yesterday, 1 December, was the first day of Advent, the period leading up to Christmas.
In Christian religions, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, this is a significant time of year. Both religions set great store by the Advent Calendar.
Advent in Spain
In Spain, funcionarios and pensionistas have just received a double salary payment, so, in theory they have a lot of disposable income.
However, they’ve got the “Puente” of 6 and 8 December, Christmas, New Year and Epiphany to pay for! And the Spanish spend vast amounts of money at this time of year, especially on presents for the children.
According to tradition, today is when you can start to decorate your home for this festive period.
A personal viewpoint
I’m going to be alone for Christmas this year, for the first time in my long life. You can read all about that here:
De Rodríguez – at Christmas?
So. I’ve already started to put up a few Christmas decorations. I’ve also decided
on my Christmas Dinner menu.
I was going to just do a traditional English roast turkey with all the trimmings, which I haven’t had very often in recent years, but my “lovely” wife Rita suggested something different and presented me with a couple of different options:
Cream of pumpkin soup followed by roasted sea bass stuffed with vegetables and prawns. Sounds great, doesn’t it? And as a bow to English tradition, if I can find one, I shall have Christmas pud!
Recipe here: Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner
Endpiece
So, I've started putting up Christmas decorations; I'm planning my meals for the Christmas period; and I'm contemplating which Christmas TV programmes I shall watch.
¡Felices Fiestas!
© The Culture Vulture
Links:
Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner
De Rodríguez – at Christmas?
Photos:
BBC
irBarcelona
Facebook
Tags:
Advent, Advent Calendar, Christmas, Christmas decorations, Christmas Dinner menu, Christmas pud, Christmas TV programmes, Cream of pumpkin soup, Culture Vulture, Epiphany, Felices Fiestas, funcionarios, “lovely”, New Year, Paul Whitelock, pensionistas, Protestant, “Puente” of 6 and 8 December, Rita, roasted sea bass stuffed with vegetables and prawns, Roman Catholic, traditional English roast turkey with all the trimmings,