EL ROSCÓN DE REYES: The King´s Ring Cake »
One of the most popular Christmastime sweet treats in Spain is the roscón, the King´s Ring Cake. Strictly speaking, it should be eaten on the 6th of January. In practice the delightful sweet-tooth pleasure is served from the "First Day of Christmas" (December 25) through the "Twelfth Day" (January 6) or the Epiphany when the Star of Bethlehem reveals the Infant Jesus to the Three Kings, putting an end to the Christmas celebrations.
THE KING WHO’S STUCK IN THE ORIENT »
King Juan Carlos, the father of the reigning King of Spain, Felipe VI, isn’t coming – can´t come – home for Christmas much as he wants to. Hard on the heels of headline-grabbing scandals, he has self-exiled in the United Arab Emirates since last summer. And now neither King Felipe nor Pedro Sanchez, President of Spain, feels comfortable having the octogenarian "King Emeritus" back. He used to be hero-worshipped, having engineered the way to a parliamentary monarchy after nearly four decades of the stultifying Franco dictatorship.
CHESTNUTS, A YULETIDE STREET FEAST »
In Madrid, as in any other self-respecting city, there are stands roasting chestnuts in strategic streets. They don’t come cheap, though. At least not in Madrid. A dozen costs between €2.00 and €3.00. But they’re veritable health food, on top of the Christmassy feeling they evoke. They can even improve brain function! Happy eating!
THE BATTLE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE »
Now that it’s Christmastime, there are “better” things to squabble about. Martinez Almeida warned that “the Christmas lights in Madrid will shine so bright you’ll be able to see them in Vigo.” Caballero shot back: “Don’t even dream of competing with me. New York tried and lost.”
WHO WOULD KIDS RATHER HAVE, SANTA OR THE MAGI? »
Chances are that Spanish children would have both The Magi and Santa! Think about it, two bountiful bearers of gifts instead of just one, from the East and from the West, and the Royals coming right on the jovial heels of Ho Ho Ho!
COME TO THE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS FAIR OF CULTURES IN MATADERO, MADRID! »
More than 70 Christmas stands of embassies and international institutions!
GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “HOW TO GET RICH: TRY SPAIN’S NATIONAL LOTTERY,” 15 November 1963 »
The irrepressible tendency of citizens to risk a bit of their hard earned cash in the hope of gaining a sizeable piece of real estate in the Milky Way has been turned to good advantage. In the form of National Lotteries it provides the only form of taxation where the tax payers queue up to contribute their share of the National Expenditure and get quite a thrill out of doing so.
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS HERE,” 19 December 1986 »
Thirty-two years ago, this lovely article was published in Guidepost. Age hasn't dimmed its vividness. And Spain at Christmas, as the writer described it, still is very much the same despite Santa Claus, the Christmas trees and the Christmas lights which, on the other hand, are welcome imports. FELIZ NAVIDAD everyone!
STATESIDE STORIES: The Legend of Mistletoe, Christmas Kisses! »
Tradition dictates that a man is allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath the mistletoe, with bad luck for her all year round if she refused. But there's a very unromantic side to the little bugger: it is parasitic! It feeds on the host plant and stunts it growth.
