For some reason, everyone asks me if I went back to England for the holidays. First, no... I'm American... and second although I did miss my american home more than usual during the holidays I was ecstatic to be able to experience las navedades here in Spain.
We spent Christmas in Gata, the village in the very north of Extremadura where my host mom grew up. It is a typical tiny european village that seems lost in time. I went on a horseback ride and except for the occasional car I could have sworn we had stepped through a time machine. There were cobblestone streets and old buildings and people I could only explain as peasants. How they celebrate christmas here is way different, but not in a bad way. It was very simple, we just ate dinner and lunch with family and had a chill weekend. I was missing home pretty bad but talking to Steven made my day much better :)
New Years Eve or Nochevieja is the most important holiday of the year. My favorite tradition is in the last 12 seconds of the year you eat 12 grapes and it brings good luck or something like that. And oh boy I ate those grapes like a champ! We ate dinner with family in Merida, and 4 girls had to cram into a tiny bathroom in my abuela's house to get ready in-between dinner and midnight. We had a great time though. Later my host sister and I went to a party in a real medieval castle! It was an amazing night! The only problem was it was soooo cold, -3 degrees Celsius and walking around in our dresses and heels was not comfortable in that weather.
Dia de los Reyes Magos is a holiday in Spain that celebrates when the wisemen brought gifts to the baby Jesus, and it is when the children receive presents. I love it and I think it makes way more sense, and it keeps Christmas more christ-centered. The night before, my friend Marina and I watched the parade in the main street of Caceres and later we had dinner with some friends of my host parents. In the morning we opened presents and went to Merida again to be with family.
These three days are the most important holidays this time of year and I had a blast! I am so grateful for this opportunity to experience another culture and way of life and these things show even more during the holidays. I love and miss you all back there in the states! Happy holidays from your favorite strange-speaking blonde spaniard
Besos!
Bailey
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