TWO HOMES, ONE CHRISTMAS

It was 9.30 in the morning and I woke up to the smell of hot chocolate and Churros. Michael’s Bublé Christmas album was being played downstairs and meanwhile I could hear my little sister calling our mom to show her the almost invisible layer of snow covering our garden: Mom! It’s finally snowing, c´mon take a look!

Back in my home town, Madrid, the Christmas traditions are kept at home. Even though we are a historically Catholic country, the Christmas spirit is little to be felt on the streets: poor lighting decoration, no Christmas music at the majority of the stores and most of the years…no snow either. Whoever I ask about the Spanish culture, they always tend to define it as ”festive”. I would love to bear that out but sadly the truth is that we are only festive during the summer season.

Nevertheless, there is one concrete day where all the hidden Christmas spirit comes to light: 6th of January. This date may not sound familiar or relevant to most of you but if you are Spanish you know what I am talking about: Three Wise Men. Yes, we do keep the tradition of giving presents in between the family members on this special day to relive the moment when the Three Wise Men adored baby Jesus with gold, incense and myrrh. 

This day usually begins with a family breakfast around the presents hidden under the christmas tree. Then we proceed to open them and hold a family lunch with the grandparents and some other relatives if possible. By the evening, the town celebrations begin: parades! Plenty of magnificent carriages with Christmas characters start to throw candy to the crowds that follow the parade in the streets while Christmas carols are being played at considerably loud volume, turning the whole town into a real Christmas Festival.

Daddy, mommy… can we go to the beach?

That would be the most common phrase to wake up to during Christmas season in San Diego, California. As my mom’s family is from California, we try to go there from time to time to spend the Christmas holidays.

I would describe Christmas in San Diego as the complete opposite to Madrid: sun 24/7, extravagant Christmas decoration everywhere, carols in every corner… but no warm feeling at home.

If you have never experienced Christmas without cold, it may appear as a little shocking the first time. Especially if you go to San Diego where 60% of the youth surfs and spends their Christmas mornings in their swimsuits by the beach like if summer had no end.

Later on when the night starts to cover the sunny sky, the city turns into a show of colorful lights. Then you find yourself with your Hollister ripped jeans and Hawaiian flip flops joining the rest of your neighborhood for a Christmas tour around the block which consists on listening to kids singing carols in the main street and taking pictures in every house you pass by, as deciding which one has the best Christmas decoration is basically impossible.

And now I ask to myself… is it possible to have chocolate con Churros at the beach?