Navidad, un momento para el reencuentro

One of my favourite times of the year is Christmas. It is at this time that people come together to celebrate with family and friends and exchange gifts that they have bought for one another. For some people it is enjoyed from a religious point of view and for others it is a time to party and indulge in a little too much food and drink.

I love the run-up to Christmas in Barcelona. The days get shorter and the temperature gets a little colder, but during the day the sky is clear and the sun still shines, even if we can´t feel its effect so much.  Like most major cities around the world the Christmas street lights are switched on and their bright light signals the start of the festive period.

Where I come from (Dublin, Ireland) it is a tradition for parents to bring their children to see Santa Claus. He is usually situated in shopping centres and the children get to experience the magic of Christmas when they enter Santa’s house and sit  on his lap and tell him what they would like for Christmas. Santa tells the child to be good and he will do his best to give him or her what they want. Then they get a present from him and for the rest of the month leading up to Christmas parents experience a period of time where all they have to do to get their child to behave is mention that Santa only comes to boys and girls who are good; a peaceful month follows.

The night before Christmas you have to write your list of things that you would like to get and you leave some biscuits or carrots for the reindeer and a can of Guinness for Santa. The next morning when you come down to see what you got the Guinness has been drunk and the carrots or biscuits are gone. This means that Santa has been and gone and now it’s time to open your presents.

Later that day people have Christmas dinner with their families and afterwards sit around and watch television. For the rest of the holiday period people meet up in bars and enjoy a drink with friends.

G. Harman