theViatrix

From Playmobil figurines to video installations to 17th-century works of art, Spaniards go nuts for belenes. [...]

This week I’ve done another guest post over at PocketVillage, this time for their series on Christmas traditions around the world. Since there are a few really quirky ones here in Spain, I offered to write something up for them. Be prepared for some weird, earthy stuff (which lent itself to some earthy language—sorry Mom!). I came up with four weird Spanish Christmas traditions, so head over to PocketVillage to check it out.

And, in case you’ve forgotten what it’s like here in Madrid, check out my posts on Christmas in the city and welcoming the Three Kings into town. There’s lots going on in Madrid again this year, so check back for more coming soon!

Madrid’s Malasaña district buzzed today with with the sound of spray cans and the smell of paint. Over 100 graffiti artists from all over Spain and Europe descended on the neighborhood to paint 140 shutters for participating businesses. The grafiteros were accompanied by hundreds more observers, from families to camera crews, who had come to see the spectacle. [...]

In Spain, the three wise men, and not Papa Noel, bring presents to the good children and leave coal for the bad ones (though some lucky kids get a visit from both parties). Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar parade into cities all across the country on January 5th and leave gifts that night, which the kids open the next morning on Epiphany, aka Twelfth Night. And in Madrid, thousands of children take to the streets to welcome the visiting monarchs from the Orient. [...]