Are you a fan of Santa Claus or the Three Wise Men? Great question, right? If you’re Spanish, your answer is almost certainly either the Three Wise Men or both, but it’s rare for a Spanish family to celebrate only Santa Claus.

It’s true that, over the years, we’ve embraced many foreign traditions that have filled our homes with more gifts and our calendar with more festivities. We Spaniards love to celebrate, gather with family, and catch up over a good meal. But it’s also true that in Spain, we have endearing and picturesque Christmas traditions that are just as good as those from abroad. Do you know any?

For example, you’ve probably heard of the Christmas plant or Euphorbia pulcherrima. A red-leaved plant that always decorates more than one home at Christmas. Euphorbia pulcherrima, which can grow to several meters, is very sensitive to temperature, which is why it seems that once Christmas is over, its leaves fall and don’t reappear until the following year, almost as if it misses the family warmth of each Christmas reunion.

We also can’t forget the Christmas lottery because, whether you believe in luck or not, almost all Spaniards buy at least a couple of tickets. It’s often a tradition to give these numbers to our family members, and if they win four million euros, they have to be shared, right? At Christmas, we share tickets and share happiness.

Now, you absolutely have to remember the twelve grapes that chime at the end of the year, because you’ve almost certainly choked on them at some point. It’s said that if you successfully complete this tradition, the coming year will be all good. However, avoiding choking on one isn’t easy, as the chimes advance so quickly that you can’t even chew. It’s best to have them peeled and seeded before starting the task.

Last but not least, we have to mention the Three Wise Men. This is probably the tradition children hold most dear, and not just because of the gifts. Many people leave a glass of milk and cookies at home for the Three Wise Men and their camels, as the journey is long and tiring.

Although let’s face it, the Three Wise Men aren’t just for children, we all love receiving gifts. So, why not give us a visit? We’ll serve you Christmas with dinner and a smile.