Feliz Navidad - Happy Christmas!

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 11:38

Written by Editor

With less than a week to go why not take some time out to soak up the special atmosphere of the Spanish festive season? One of my favourite treats at this time of year is a trip into Malaga, particularly as dusk falls and the lights come on all over the city.  If you don't fancy driving into the centre, then take one of the local Cercanias train lines. The coastal line runs services every twenty minutes to Malaga Centro/Alameda from Fuengirola (and you can always leave your car at one of the stations such as Plaza Mayor where there is plenty of easy parking). 

As you come out of the station walk down towards the Paseo del Parque past the flower stalls bristling with scarlet poinsettias and then up Calle Larios to the Plaza de la Constitucion – and admire the gorgeous kaleidescope of twinkling coloured lights.  This year, apparently, the decorations are made from LED lights to conserve electricity but the effect is no less impressive.

And it isn't just the light show that is so exciting in Malaga this time of year, the atmosphere is electric too but in a good-natured way.  Throngs of Spanish families and people of all nationalities  stroll around for their evening “paseo” to admire the decorations or stop in one of the many cafes and tapas bars to watch the world go by.  And don't forget to pass by the magnificent cathedral where illuminations make the freshly cleaned stonework gleam golden in the evenings.  The facade is lit up with doves and the inscription “Paz en la Tierra” (Peace on Earth) while a simple “Belen”  (Bethlehem) adorns the cathedral steps.

There are many other “Belens” to be seen (including one inside the cathedral) but Spanish nativity scenes are, of course, generally quite elaborate and show not only the birth in the stable but the whole of the surrounding area.  And they frequently incorporate elements which owe a lot to the imagination – last year  the three kings arrived in a Venetian-style Bethlehem by gondola in Malaga cathedral and the municipal Belen in the town hall this year apparently is a watery one with rivers and the Mediterranean sea featuring prominently.  (The ultimate though, has to be the scene   in the town of Rute, in Cordoba province, attracting thousands of visitors who can only admire, not taste the  buildings and characters made entirely from chocolate!)

To get a flavour of the Andalucian Christmas and to see photographs of the Malaga lights log on to the very informative website www.navidad-andalucia.es  – it's in Spanish but easy to navigate (just click on Navidad 2011 en Malaga).  Then if you click on “Villancicos” in the top menu bar you can even listen to some Spanish carols – try listening to the children singing Silent Night/Noche de Paz – just the thing to get you in the mood for next weekend!