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I was surprised when I found out that most kids in Spain don’t have school today, December 6.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked. “Is it because it’s St. Nicholas Day?”
“No, here in Spain, it’s Constitution Day.”
“On December 6, 1978, millions of Spaniards voted in favor of the country’s first democratic constitution during a referendum, the culmination of Spain’s transition to democracy after decades under Franco’s dictatorship.”
thelocal.es
What’s ‘Constitution Day’?
So, what happens on Constitution Day in Spain? From what I can find and from what I can observe . . . absolutely nothing!
Other than the kids being home from school, some parents not working, some grocery stores being closed . . . life seemed to carry on as usual. The gym was open. The small grocery store in our small pueblo was open. The Chinese store was open. Restaurants were bursting at the seams to take advantage of families who were spending the day together. My boys had soccer practice. Spain was open as usual. I did notice that many of our Spanish neighbors put up their Christmas tree lights, but that’s about all.
In any case, I was a bit confused. I thought December 6 was another holiday.
Confusion is not unusual for a French-American living in Spain. Cultural confusion happens a lot in our house—not daily, but a lot.
When my eyes and mind grow culturally cloudy, there’s only one thing to bring my foggy and distorted vision back into crystal-clear focus.
If you have read any of my stories, you know that I’m a fan of wearing cultural awareness glasses wherever I go. Something brilliant, beautiful, and colorful happens when I put them on. I can see!
So, that’s exactly what I did when I found out about December 6. I put on my cultural awareness glasses and started looking around, started asking questions to my local Spanish friends, started digging into some research and voilà! I began to see and understand.
No, I didn’t understand everything, and I still have some questions of curiosity. However, I’m not totally blind here in Spain, living and groping in the darkness.
So, yes, today is Constitution Day in Spain. That’s why there’s no school. However, in many other parts of the world, there’s no school for another reason . . . St. Nicholas Day!
What’s ‘St. Nicholas Day’?
Here’s some interesting information that I discovered about St. Nicholas Day:
Saint Nicholas Day, also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, observed on 5 December or on 6 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar . . . falls within the season of Advent. It is celebrated as a Christian festival with particular regard to Saint Nicholas’ reputation as a bringer of gifts, as well as through the attendance of church services.
In the European countries of Germany and Poland, boys have traditionally dressed as bishops and begged alms for the poor. In Poland, children wait for St. Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year. Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands, Dutch children put out a shoe filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas’ horse. On Saint Nicholas Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender.
The American Santa Clause, as well as the British Father Christmas, derive from Saint Nicholas.
Wikipedia
Presents Today, Please!
In Spain, they don’t celebrate St. Nicholas Day. Rather, presents are delivered to children, not on December 6, not on December 25, but on January 6. January 6 in Spain is like our Christmas Day in the United States. That’s when the three kings deliver presents to the children of Spain. We have another month to wait for gifts around here!
You can read all about “Kings’ Day” here.
In any case, kids in Spain seem thrilled to be home today, sleep in a bit, and eat a relaxing breakfast. They are happy to go on a beautiful walk in the neighborhood under the sun with their dogs. Eating lunch with friends at a restaurant is pure delight. Relaxing by the fire in the evening and watching movies, instead of doing homework, is also a hit.
St. Nicholas, whether you come to visit us in Spain on December 6 or not, we are happy to celebrate you around the world. We will also eagerly await your coming on December 25 in our French-American home and on January 6 in our host country of Spain. Lots of visits, lots of presents, lots of celebrations to come.
We are hanging our stockings by the chimney with care and also sitting our boots by the door for the three kings and their camels to pass by for delivery.
Fill ’em up, Santa, fill ’em up!
My St. Nicholas Gift to You—Get Your Free Book—”The 12 Countries of Christmas”!
—The Cultural Story-Weaver
Let’s Weave Cultures!
How do you celebrate Christmas in your country or in the land where you live? What are some interesting traditions that you know of?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
Hi,
Spain celebrates on the 6th of December the adoption of the Constitution of 1978, voted the day by the people. Some people call it La Nicolasa because of that.
Thank you, Iñigo, for clarifying the Spanish cultural tradition for me. Now, I know!!!! 🙂
In Peru and Venezuela Christmas is celebrated with family meals, fireworks and gifts. Panettone and hot chocolate are favorites. Church services filled with carols and candles all combine to make for a memorable day.
Thanks for sharing, John! I know that you have a lot of cross-cultural experience! So fun! Merry Christmas! 🙂
And, John, Venezuela is the “3rd Country of Christmas”!!! 🙂