It’s Christmas time now and many of Mester students who are here to study Spanish in Spain have gone home to be with their family, friends and loved ones – though this is probably the only way in which their Christmases are going to be the same!  In our Spanish schools we have students from all over the world – as far as China and America to as near as France and Italy.  It’s a great mix of students and a brilliant eye opening experience for young students who haven’t travelled much before – by coming to the school they can meet people from over ten nationalities by just being in the one place!

Mester school decorated for Christmas!

One of the best times that the students enjoy is the Christmas period.  Here they can learn about the traditions in the countries of their friends, traditions such as the following:

England:

In England the day is typically passed with the family eating a special Christmas meal – the finale being the traditional Christmas pudding – a type of cake with fruits added and typically a liquor.  A favourite tradition of years ago in England was to add a coin to the cake mix – and whoever got the piece of cake with the coin in was to have luck for the following year.  Another tradition, this time for the children, is to leave stockings at the end of the bed (to be filled with presents) and food and drink for Father Christmas.

The lights are up for Christmas!

Holland:

Most children in Holland consider 5th December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents, to be the most important day.  This is on 6th December when, after leaving clogs out the night before on 5th December, the children receive the presents.  They also leave hay and carrots for the horses of Sinterklass. The Dutch tradition says that he lives in Madrid and every year chooses a different port in which to arrive in Holland, so the maximum number of children get to see him.

France:

The French take their letter writing to Santa very seriously.  In 1962 a law was passed to say that every child who writes to Santa must get a postcard as a response!  And they expect presents too – French children put their shoes in front of the fireplace hoping for presents and gifts, rather than a spanking from Père Fouettard (the equivalent to the coal given to naughty children in England).

Mester Spanish school ready for Christmas!

Germany:

Food is a big aspect of the Christmas celebrations in Germany -suckling pig is a favourite, as is “reisbrei” (a sweetened cinnamon dish).  Christmas Eve is a night to eat lots of food for they believe if you don’t eat well, you will be haunted by demons during the night.

However you celebrate Christmas, make sure it’s a good one for you and your family, thinking of those around the world and looking forward to coming back to Spain to learn Spanish

for the New Year – a great New Year’s resolution!