Guest Author - Denise Hart

Although ''national stereotypes'' are more often than not over exaggerated, one thing that is definitely true about the Spanish is that they love to party! Any excuse is viable for a fiesta - and Christmas is, of course, no exception.

There are a great many national customs at Christmas, too many to be able to look at them all now. Some are very similar to what we all know and love, some are quite different and more than a few are decidedly odd! Before dealing with the oddest of these traditions, let’s take a quick look at one of the most popular here, that you should all recognise - El Belen - the Nativity scene (literal translation Bethlehems).

EL BELEN -THE NATIVITY SCENE

The tradition of living Nativity scenes using real people in ''tableaux'' was started in Italy by St. Francis of Assisi. It was much later that this converted in the Nativity scenes with small figures famous now throughout Spain. Living scenes using real people and animals are still seen in most towns, obviously not a long term display, but usually one or two pre-advertised ''performances''. There is one held each year on a patch of land near to my house, complete with straw and farm animals. The smaller scenes using clay or plastic figures are still very much an integral part of the Christmas decorations in most houses with children - definitely as important as the Christmas tree. Nearly all town squares have larger, very professional displays and a great many shops set Nativity scenes in their windows.

For the time being I won't delve into the whole historical theme (l will do so at a later date), but rather take in some examples of Nativity scenes today and particularly one very odd character to be found lurking in the nether regions of Bethlehem.