Spanish Lesson 6

Feliz Navidad

I thought you might enjoy knowing a little more about how the Spaniards celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

Though, it is usually a last minute rush for the women, Christmas is a family affair. Christmas Eve, “Noche Buena” as it is known in Spanish, on the actual day starts earlier more likely for the older members of the family by attending midnight mass -which is rarely at midnight now - it is usually at eight or nine o’clock. After the mass, they all go to the designated in-Laws’ to have dinner.

The meal, at least in Andalucía, mainly consists of cold dishes where vast amounts of sea food, in particular “gambas” are the protagonists, cold cuts, cheese, ensaladilla and other similar dishes are served. In some homes they will prepare a hot meal with fish and “papas pobres” (sliced potatoes and onions are slow-baked in the oven with gallons of olive oil and salt) and in even fewer will they serve turkey. The houses are characterized not so by the decorations but by the cold temperature, given – as no doubt you have experienced yourself - they were not designed for this weather! People keep warm around “la mesa camilla” which is a tall (80 cm) table in the centre of the three piece suite. This is no ordinary table not only does it have a long tablecloth reaching the floor, but under it there is an electric heater. Everyone is sat around the table, using the tablecloth as a blanket over their legs, eating the meal whilst watching TV. At midnight, they drink and hug each other. Younger members of the family swiftly depart into the darkness and to nightclubs. Generally, as they do not have the tradition of Father Christmas, no gifts are exchanged, save a little something for the children which is left next to the Nativity.

That brings us to New Year. Many families have dinner at home along the same lines as Christmas. However, others go to “cotillones” (parties) until the small hours. What is actually fascinating is that in many homes they have a lot of rituals upon the clock striking twelve, yes indeed. The majority of them with a glass of cava in their hand manage to have a grape with each strike, making a wish for the coming year, a few do it standing on a chair allowing evil spirits to pass under it. Others also brush water out of the house to cleanse it, whilst some with a suitcase come in and out of the house as many times as possible to signify many trips for that year. Women usually wear red underware but the trick here is that it has to be new and a gift from a friend not bought, otherwise you will not be blessed with good luck!

Sour grapes!

The crisis has affected the way people view work, I'm sure.

I thought that given the number of people on the dole in Spain that it would make them more aware that a job is something of a luxury and a good job would be the winning number. But, alas, I am mistaken.

Contented they must be queuing up outside the INEM, filling in form after form, going from appointment to appointment, one interview to another to receive what -must be- a good sum of money at the end of the month. Hard work no doubt and well rewarded as it only needs to be done once every certain period, unlike real work where you must get up early everyday and actually go to do a full day's work.

Don't get me wrong I am not implying that everyone is lazy, but merely expressing that the problem that the government has is quite a deep one. Look here, if you are going to work somewhere for a minimum wage to earn less than you would on the dole and probably doing something that is not well - gratifying - then why bother at all. At the end of the day, you can still do that same job in the black and continue receiving your dole! It's a no brainer.

What if you were offered a job as an “Autónomo” (legal free lancer) to do hourly work where your expense would be covered and you would still have some over to supplement your income, but you didn't want to pay it because you'd rather get the full amount in black or be an employee full time.

The other circumstance is when you are actually looking for a job and you have no experience. What do you then? How will you get experience if you would rather get the dole? Is this confusing or is it just me? It must be me.

Maybe a subject at school and university should be "unemployment 101" wherein they would teach you what forms to fill in, what benefits you will be allowed to claim, how to avoid the dreaded courses you will be obliged to take, or accept a job where you will be earning less than you would on the dole. Another subject would be to start studying for the "oposiciones"

One of my personal favourites is when having a 'normal' job you resign to study for the "oposiciones".(For those of you who don't know what this is I'll make it a future subject) in the hope of getting a lifetime job as a government official in the local government or school. Thus enjoying all the benefits therein, among them the very rare occurrence of ever being fired or losing your job even if you are, well, inept!

Yes, you are right. The column should be called sour grapes rather than south of the border!

Kerry Sastrias