Speak the Culture: Spain: Be Fluent in Spanish Life and Culture

Feast food

Christmas.The main meal is served for supper on

Nochebuena, December 24th.Traditionalists dine on roast

capon or turkey, stuffed with chestnuts in Galicia, apples

in Asturias and a mixture of plums, raisins and pine nuts

in Catalonia. Artichokes are served with a béchamel or

almond sauce. Suckling pig is growing in popularity as an

alternative.Turrón, the Andalusian nougat, is a Christmas

favourite.

Epiphany. Children tuck intotortell de reis, the cake of

kings.The ring-shaped cake contains a coin or a bean and

the one who finds the prize gets to wears a crown for the

day. In Valencia, children leave a tray with turrón, sugared

almonds and sweet sherry to fortify the three Magi on

their return journey to the East.

Easter. Roast suckling pig, kid and lamb are traditional.

Catalonians tuck into doughnuts on Good Friday, followed

bymona de Pasqua, a yeasted cake, on Easter Monday.

La Festa do Chourizo de Vila de Cruces.

Celebrating the humblechorizosausage in Vila de Cruces, Galicia: February.

Fiesta del Bollo

In honour of pastry, Avilés, Asturias: Easter Sunday and Monday.

Feria de Tabaco y el Pimiento

It’s all about tobacco and paprika in Jaraíz de La Vera, Extremadura: August.

Fiesta del Pulpo

Eight legs are better than two at the octopus festival in Carballiño, Galicia: August.

Las Jornadas del Olivar y Aceite

Olive and olive oil festival in Baena, Andalusia: November.

Fiesta de la Castaña

Pujerra in Andalusia says hoorah for the chestnut: November.

Foodie festivals

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1. Identity: the
   building blocks of
   2. Literature
   and philosophy
   3. Art and
   architecture
   4. Performing
   arts
   5. Cinema
   and fashion
   6. Media and
   communications
   7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
   the details of

Supersizing Spain

A study by the

Spanish Ministry of

Health reveals that

the number of obese

and overweight

people in Spain has

doubled over the last

18 years.