5 Spanish Holiday Traditions You Should Try In America
The joy of the holiday season is not confined to any one country or culture. However, the festive traditions that are used to partake in this joy vary greatly throughout the world. In Germany, they hide a pickle in the Christmas tree. In Japan, while Christmas isn’t a national holiday, it is common to eat fried chicken.
Now I may be biased, but I think some of the most festive and exciting traditions of the season have their root in none other than Spain. (I warned you of the bias.) But now that I’ve brought my business and my family to America, I can see that many of these traditions have the potential to flourish among the American people.
And so, here’s my beginner’s guide for the 5 Spanish traditions that Americans should try this holiday season — and forever into the future!
1 Cava — A custom you probably already partake in, this time with a Spanish twist. When you pop some bubbly on La Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), try drinking the sparkling wine Cava as we do in Spain. It is a great accompaniment to a night spent celebrating with friends and family.
2 Lotería de Navidad — One of the largest continuously run lotteries worldwide, this Spanish tradition unfolds on December 22nd every year as everyone gathers together to anxiously wait and see if they won the grand prize (aka El Gordo). The excitement and togetherness it brings to the community certainly add to the festive feelings this time of year. Why not grab a few scratch-off lottery tickets and host your own version with family and friends here?
3 Santos Inocentes — This day falls on December 28th and was once rooted in religious context, but now is simply a time for fun and games. On this day, everyone plays practical jokes on each other (similar to April Fool’s Day). As we in Spain are big believers of enjoying life, it’s a great way to have some fun feeling like a kid again. It’s also an excellent way to make sure you don’t let any of the holiday stress get to you!
4 Las Uvas De La Suerte or The Lucky Grapes — While not a Christmas tradition, an important Spanish tradition on New Year’s Eve. For each toll of the bell at the stroke of midnight, you eat a grape and make a wish to bring yourself good luck in the new year. Certainly couldn’t hurt to grab a vine and decide what are your biggest hopes for the coming year.
5 Jamón Ibérico — And perhaps the closest holiday traditions to my heart are the ones that involve food. What says special occasion more than some of the finest food out there? There are many ways to incorporate the wonderful Iberian ham into your family’s traditional dishes, whatever those may be. Whether cooking fresh ibérico pork (in Spain, we love cochinillo for the holidays) or serving a plate of cured jamón ibérico with wine and cheese, the possibilities are endless. You can also outdo Santa Claus himself by giving a leg of jamón ibérico as a gift. This is the kind of gift that should be reserved only for those who have been very good, of course.
Sergio Marsal Colom, President & CEO Acornseekers
