'FIRA DE SANTA LLÚCIA', XMAS TRADITION IN BARCELONA

Today, The Grandma has visited The Fira de Santa Llúcia, one of the city's most popular Christmas fairs in Barcelona since 1786.

The Fira de Santa Llúcia, one of the city's most popular Christmas fairs, has been held in front of the Cathedral since 1786.

Visitors will find craft products and typical Christmas items there. Two figures from the world of Catalan culture, among many others, have testified to its importance: the aristocrat Rafael Amat, known as the Baron of Maldà, and the folklorist Joan Amades.

Every year more than two hundred stalls fill the Pla de la Seu and Avinguda de la Catedral with a broad range of products. The stalls are sets up there at the end of November or beginning of December but always before 13 December, which is the feast day of Santa Llúcia, and they stay there till Christmas.

They are grouped in four main sectors. Nativity scenes and figures, offering nativity scene accessories, caves, figures, candles and Christmas decorations. Greenery and plants, where you will find natural and artificial trees, moss, tió logs, eucalyptus branches and similar things. Crafts, with all kinds of craft products and accessories, such as clothes, jewellery, decorations and gift items, plus lots more. Finally, the music sector, with simbombes, tambourines and other traditional Christmas instruments.

While the Fira de Santa Llúcia is on you can enjoy all kinds of traditional Christmas entertainment and activities, such as the short courses organised by the nativity-scene makers, the Associació de Pessebristes de Barcelona, a giant tió log, the Carassa de Nadal parade, traditional dancing and musical performances.

 More information: Fira de Santa Llúcia

Christmas is not a time nor a season,
but a state of mind.
To cherish peace and goodwill,
to be plenteous in mercy,
is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Calvin Coolidge

HOW TO CREATE A TIÓ BY THE BEANS FAMILY

The Grandma & The Tió

Last Wednesday, 20, The Beans continued with their English classes and they reviewed some grammar like the Prepositions of Time and The Articles, paying especial attention to the rules of the The article.

More information: A/An Articles

It was an interesting day, The Beans worked hard as always and they could make a Tió, a typical Catalan Christmas figure composed by a trunk and a blanket in its old version and the same elements, with a red hat and a painted-face in its modern one. 

More information: The Article

It was a good chance to use the Imperative to create a little manual about how to create a Tió.

More information: Prepositions of time 

Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling. 

Edna Ferber