Christmas Time in Menorca

To live as deep as possible the ESC experience I decided not to go home for Christmas holidays. I've been here for less than two months, it seemed too early to go back home. So I've spent the Christmas celebrations here, with the other volunteers living in Sant Lluís and Mahón. 

On the 6th of December we went to see the lighting ceremony of the Christmas illuminations in Mahón. There is a wonderful tradition and story about it, and they do a very impressive show for the children with volunteers of the climbing centre, dressed up as Llumets, fantasy creatures that brings the lights in town.

In the night of the 24th, Nochebuena, we had a big dinner in our house and then we went to dance in the main square of Mahón, where a band was playing, and in the clubs of the port, till 5.00 o'clock in the morning.

The 25^th, Navidad, we had a big lunch all together and we shared the hangover watching Woody Allen's movies.

For the New Year's Eve, Nochevieja, Giulia (the other Italian volunteer) and I took a last minute flight to Palma de Mallorca, on the near island, and we celebreted there the beginning of 2020! We heared the 12 bells and ate the 12 grape berries, according to the Spanish tradition, and we danced in the street till 3.00 o'clock. We were expecting something more "loco" (more party mood, more dancing music and more fireworks) actually, but we had fun anyway. We came back in the morning of the 1st of Jenuary, with the first flight, at 8.45. 

Nochevieja in Palma de Mallorca

But in Spain, the big celebration during the Christmas time is on the 6th of January, the Epiphany day, in which the Three Wise Man bring presents to the Infant. Spanish people organize great fiestas and the children wait for the Reyes who bring them presents. 

We went in Mahon on the evening of the 5th and we attended the parade of the Reyes, arrived by boat, with masked extras on carts and horses, throwing candies to the crowd.

Los Reyes a Mahon