ciadoncha; ¡cuántos recuerdos - Webpages at SCU - Santa Clara ...

If “el gordo’ does not come for Christmas, there is always the enthusiasm for the
raffle of Jesus, which occurs in January, but by this day it appears that there is not as
much expectation. Perhaps because the prize is smaller.
Number of the National Lottery of the Raffle of Jesus. 1993
http://www.9timezones.com/loteria.gif
Talking with the participants about Christmas, they told me that before there were
no gifts on this date. That as well, to me since I was a foreigner, surprised me since one
of the most attractive things to children in many countries are the gifts they receive that
day.
Today, even Spain has become infected with Father Noel and Santa Claus and
they now distribute gifts on Christmas, with the pretext that the children have more time
to enjoy them before beginning school on the 7th of January, immediately following the
6th which is the day of the Wise Men. In the past, gifts were always given on this day.
The reality is that the children have come out winning because they receive gifts on both
occasions. The parents and the family also always give something to the Wise Men.
The 28th of December is the day of Innocent Saints. This day is not a holiday of
observance, one does not even have to go to mass, but on this day the most ingenious
jokes are made about the whole year. The jokes consist of tricking someone by making
them go somewhere or telling them that something has happened. The point is that the
person believes it to be true. Upon realizing it, they remember that it is the day of
Innocent Saints and you tell them that they have been bloopered. They, with grace and
courtesy, respond back “With good health you shall do it to me next year”.
On the 31st, it is customary to tell the children: “In the plaza there is a man that
has more eyes than days in a year.” The children remain intrigued and say that it is not
possible, but upon explaining to them that it is the last day of the year they realize that it
is true because there only remains one day in the year. There are an abundant amount of
jokes and sayings of this type, but little by little we are losing them. For New Year’s
49