Christmas customs in Spain can be compared in differences with those of Christmas in the United States. For example: Children in the United States may leave cookies and milk for santa claus on Christmas eve as a tradition, while in Spain this is not common. Then they go to sleep and prepare to open the presents on Christmas morning. In Spain, it is different.
The tradition in Spain is that everyone goes to "The Mass of the Rooster" or "La Misa del Gallo" at midnight. The origins of the mass take back to the night when Jesus was born, where a rooster crowed. After the mass, an old tradition for the people of Spain is to run around the block with luggage, this with the symbolization of wanting to travel all around the world in the new year.
A common meal in the United States for Christmas is Turkey and cranberry sauce, while in Spain the most popular meal is seafood - mollusks,lobster,shellfish,small edible crabs,etc....
Many sweets are prepared during the holiday season and in Spain the most common and delicious are: Polvorones, a sweet crumbly almond cookie and turron de almendras, a hard or soft nougat with marcona almonds.
In the U.S common sweets involve, gingerbread cookies, sugary donuts, popcorn,etc...
Similarities between the 2 cultures are:
1) The gathering of families 2)Preparation of meals 3) Christmas decorations, etc...
There are a variety of aspects that influence Christmas in Spain and in the U.S , yet the soul of magic and love that lives throughout the holiday season lives in the hearts of everyone.
