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.
NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION. IN AUGUST? SURE! »
There's nothing perfunctory about the celebration of the New Year's Eve right bang in the middle of summer The hilly village, home to a scarce 800 inhabitants, sees to it that it has at least all the basic trimmings indispensable to a true Nochevieja celebration in Spain: the essential Three Kings, the grapes for the New Year's Eve, Holiday Season delicacies. And fun in huge quantities!
A TALK WITH THE YOUNG & DEDICATED MAYOR OF BÉRCHULES, DON ISMAEL PADILLA GERVILLA »
"Nochevieja en Agosto is no flash in the pan. We're now on our 25th year. Because of the proven continuity of our fiesta, we've become eligible for the dintinction of Fiesta de Interes Turistico. Not every initiative of every village gets to survive a quater of a century and generates so much interest. May our friends enjoy the fiesta immensely, the atmosphere be truly festive throughout the celebration, and cordiality and friendship reign."
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!
NO CHARCOAL, PLEASE, OH THREE WISE MEN »
From the Nativity in Bethlehem to the Kings’ Cavalcade in Spain, this is a story whose magic has not dimmed after 2000 years.
