CHRISTMAS+STORIES

The Christmas Market is celebrated in Madrid's "Plaza Mayor" (the main square) every year. As I´m a very curious person I started looking for information about where this tradition came from and this is what I found out. At Madrid's Plaza Mayor everything has happened. In times of the Christian Medieval wall, there was an esplanade outside Guadalaja Gate and, it is said, there was a little lake that grew with the rain.The obligation to pay taxes to sell merchandise in the city made that many merchants established themselves outside the walls, in a parallel market. Around this market many suburbs appeared. That way, Arrabal Square appeared and, due to the works of Juan Gomez de Mora at the beginning of the 17th century, it turned into Madrid's Plaza Mayor. Since then, many markets and fairs have taken place, Inquisitions trials, public executions, popular parties and bullfights.There have been three terrible fires in its history, and the last reconstruction was projected by Juan de Villanueva, who also made Prado Museum.
 * __MAYOR SQUARE__**


 * __THE PARADE OF THE THREE WISE MEN__**
 * It´s celebrated on January 5th, the day before the feast of Epiphany. People in Spain wait for the Three Wise Men to make an appearance in their city in an amazing parade called "la cabalgata de los Reyes Magos". Every big city and even small towns celebrate this important event.**
 * The Three Wise Men arrive in the different towns and cities in beautiful carriages along with their servants who start throwing candies, chocolates and even toys to the thousands of kids and adults that spend hours waiting for their arrival. The first one to arrive is usually king Melchor, then King Gaspar and finally the youngest one, king Balthazar. Streets are beautifully decorated since the beginning of the season but are well organized for the Kings Parade to be a success.**
 * Most parades are covered by local broadcasting companies, so you can enjoy not only your local parade but also enjoy simultaneosly the different parades around Spain. This parades usually start around 6:00 pm and finish around 9:00 pm. Soon after that, kids go to sleep early to wait for the kings to visit their home and leave presents. If they were bad kids ,they will receive candy coal, but if they were good kids they will receive what they asked on their letters to the Wise Men. After opening their presents the whole family enjoy the traditional "Roscon de Reyes" a delicious rounded bread with crystallized fruit, and even whipped cream.**


 * __HISTORY OF THE THREE KINGS OF THE EAST__**
 * In the time of king Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea wise men from the East came to Jerusalem asking** **"where is the child who has been born as king of the Jews?" we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him tribute. When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, he and all the chief priests and scribes from Jerusalem got together in order to ask the Three Wise Men where the Messiah had beeen born. They told him,"in Bethlehem in Judea fas it had been written by the prophet ".Then Herod secretly called for the Wise Men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, tell me so that I may also go and pay him tribute". When they had heard the king, they set out and there, ahead of them, was the star that they had seen at its rising until it stopped over the place where the child was. when they saw that the star had stopped they were overwhelmed with joy. They saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they knelt down and honoured Him. Then opening their treasure chests, they offered gold, incense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country through another path.**
 * __SAINT ANTHONY ABBOT__**
 * In Spain, animals have their very own patron Saint Anthony Abbot, whose official feast day is January 17. On the night of January 16th, the eve of San Anthony Abbot, many bonfires are lit with olive sticks in the towns of Spain in reminiscence of a pagan festival that concentrates neighbours around large fires to eat, drink and celebrate the Saint Day. There is a village called San Bartolome de Pinares where horsemen jump over a bonfire.**

On the Day of Saint Anthony, January 17th, people in town and villages throughout Spain decorate their animals with flowers, ribbons, and bells and drive them to a church. The belief is that when animal attendees are sprinkled and sanctified with holy water and invokes Saint Anthony's blessing against accident during the coming year. The creatures are blessed by a priest. There is a church in Madrid where animal owners congregate so that their pets are blessed.This church is located in Hortaleza street and it´s called Anthony the Great Church. As the saying goes in Spain-"Christmas lasts until St Anthony's Day" "HASTA SAN ANTÓN, PASCUAS SON".

//THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN BY ALFONSI DELGAGO GUERRA. SHE WON A PRIZE AT THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL BY HAVING WRITTEN THIS BEAUTIFUL TALE.//
 * __THE YOUNG MUSICIAN__**
 * Once upon a time there was a star in the sky which only three wise men noticed it was there. They decided to set off and travel over the way the star was showing them, they were convinced that it'd take them to a special place and so it happened. They found what they have always been looking forward and they gave thanks to the star.**
 * That happened a long time ago and today, Christmas Eve, a desperate and young musician without any work was thinking about his life. The cold went through his bones. He had nothing to offer his wife and his baby, who were longing for him at home.**
 * The thoughtful musician walked along the street under the starry night, his violin with him and his mind full of music. Suddenly, he kept still. Looking at the sky he could make out a very different star, its twinkling seem to dance to the sound of the music in his mind.**
 * Absorbed in what he was watching in the sky and listening in his mind, he didn't take his eyes off the star, which was following the beat.**
 * The young musician was creating sensational melodies with the help of the star.**
 * He didn't realize he was in a big park. In one side of this park an orchestra was ready to be played by distinguished musicians. Unaware of that, he took his violin out and let the music run free. The audience, waiting for the concert, was astonished and so was the conductor who invited him to go up to the stage and play those melodies.**
 * The star was lighting the stage. Covered with applauses, the young musician looked at the star and thanked it for this marvelous present.**
 * His family were never again hungry or cold.**
 * And now, a message for those who have read this tale: learn how to recognize the signals from the sky, do as the three wise men or the young musician did. It´s not difficult, only pay attention and let yourself be carried by your feelings. The prize will be worth.**
 * By Alfonsina Delgado Garcia.**