insideKENT Magazine Issue 33 - December 2014 | Page 125

homes with beautiful paper lanterns in an array
of different colours. While they do hang muslin
stockings out and await a visit from the Christmas
Old Man, the main winter feast takes place at
the end of January, which is when the presents
and feasting happens. In order to be able to
celebrate with their ancestors (which is very
important in Chinese culture), portraits and
photographs of deceased relatives are placed
around the house.
Spain
In Spain, Christmas is a very religious festival,
so there is a lot to celebrate. The first day of
Christmas tends to start on 8th December, which
is the Feat of the Immaculate Conception, when
Mary is celebrated. The ceremony starts outside
of Seville Cathedral, where a group of costumed
boys perform a dance known as 'los seises'.
The next big feast day is Christmas Eve, when
the family joins together to enjoy food, drink, and
games. On 28th December, it is the Feast of the
Holy Innocents. On this day, the children light
bonfires and the adults tidy up the towns and
villages so that by the time the new year comes
around, everywhere is clean and fresh. You may
wonder what has happened to the Christmas
presents...well, eve