MFL at Baxter College

A Spanish Christmas

 

 

This week to get in the festive spirit, Year 8 have been looking at how Christmas and New Year are celebrated in Spain and how they differ from our celebrations in Britain.

 

 

Spanish tradition has it that the Three Kings, los Reyes, are the ones who bring children presents, repeating the ritual they performed after Jesus was born.  This happens on January 6th and Spanish children traditionally leave out slippers the night before.

 

Spanish families traditionally eat lamb or seafood as their Christmas meal, followed by a pudding known as el turrón.  This is made of whole almonds in a paste of sugar, honey and egg white.  Marzipan figures are also popular.  This meal takes place on Christmas Eve – la Nochebuena.

 

On New Year’s Eve – la Nochevieja – Spaniards have a ritual whereby they eat 12 grapes as the bells strike at midnight.  Each grape is believed to bring luck for one month the following year – el Año Nuevo.

 

Between Christmas and New Year the Spanish fit in one more celebration.  This takes place on 28th December and is the equivalent of our April Fools Day.  It is known as el día de los Santos Inocentes and the custom is that people attempt to stick little paper people on the shoulders of their victims!

 

Señora Wilkin wishes you all İFeliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo!

Fiesta Nacional de España

Spain’s National Day (Fiesta Nacional de España) is celebrated on 12 October. This important national public holiday commemorates the historic re-unification of Spain, and also Christopher Columbus' first successful voyage from Spain to the Americas in 1492.  It marks the emergence of a large Spanish speaking community of more than 350 million people who share language, values, and traditions.

A huge range of popular festivities takes place throughout the day and all shops and businesses remain closed.  This allows everyone to participate in this fiesta in true Spanish style.  Colourful parades are held and streets are decorated with national flags.  Fireworks are held in the evening and traditional dancing takes place late into the night.  İFenomenal!

 
  

German Unity Day

Today marks the 19^th anniversary of German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). It is held every year to remember when the Federal Republic of Germany and the Democratic Republic of Germany united to create one single, federal Germany on October 3, 1990.

 

 

Following World War II, the area that was Germany was divided into four military sectors controlled by France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union. On May 23, 1949, the sectors controlled by France, the United Kingdom and the United States became the Federal Republic of Germany. On October 7, 1949, the sector controlled by the Soviet Union became the German Democratic Republic.

 

The two countries developed very different political and economic systems and, due to the political tensions in post-war Europe, there was little contact between the inhabitants of the two countries. A protest against the German Democratic Republic's government occurred in Leipzig on September 4, 1989. More demonstrations took place across the German Democratic Republic.

 

The protests called for political reform and to open the borders. On November 9, 1989, the checkpoints between the two countries were opened and people were allowed to travel freely. This date marked the "fall" of the Berlin wall.

 

These events lead to political change. Democratic elections paved the way for unity in the German Democratic Republic on March 18, 1990. The "Treaty of Unification" was signed by both countries' leaders in August that year. Finally, Germany's unification became official on October 3, 1990.

 

(Source: Time and Date)