December 2022 – Brian's Spain Domain

FAMOUS SPANISH XMAS TRADITIONS: The Belén (Nativity Scene)

This is not just an image of 18th Century Spain, but rather a section of a nativity scene sculpted and designed in the Neapolitan barroque style. Few things at this time of year are as widely displayed as the nativity scene, known mainly as a “belén”, which is the Spanish word for “Bethlehem”. You can come across them just about everywhere in the country (in all sizes, shapes, numbers and styles) and many are major tourist attractions. Today we are going to learn a little about the history of the nativity scene in Spain and include some ideas on where to see them. Enjoy!

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LET’S OPEN A BOTTLE (6): Cava, Spain’s sparkling wine

The holiday season is the peak moment of the year for sparkling wine as people toast with popular sparkling wines like champagne, prosecco and, naturally, Spain’s very own “cava”. Produced mostly in the region of Catalonia, not far from Barcelona, it is also made in other parts of Spain, and the range is amazing. In this episode, we’re going to learn a little about sparkling wine in general, and then key in on the fantastic world of cava. Enjoy!

December 6: Spain’s Constitution Day

December 6th is a holiday in Spain and it commemorates the referendum in 1978 when millions of Spaniards went to the polls to vote in favor of the new constitution, ushering in a new era of democracy for Spain after nearly 40 years of dictatorship. It’s a landmark in contemporary Spanish history, but the road leading to its approval was no cake-walk. Listen and learn a little about the history of Spain and its different constitutions. Enjoy!