Spain

__SPAIN __ **Lupe and Olga** Spain is a relatively large country in Europe, with 194,610 square miles of land. It is specifically in Southwestern Europe, and Spanish is the primary language. The language has spread throughout other countries, and now Spain is the second most spoken first language in the world. There are around 500,000,000 spanish speaking people theoughout the world. The government is a democracy, and a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. Spain has the twelfth largest economy, with the tenth highest quality of life index rating. "Map of Spain « Map of the United States." //Map of the United States//. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. .

Christmas is a very religious holiday in Spain and begins on December eighth. The Christmas patron saint is the Virgin Mary and they believe that the Three Wise Men deliver gifts. One tradition that is very well known in Spain is called Los Seises (Dance of Six). However, the dance is no longer preformed by six boys but ten. This dance is a very elaborate dance that involves various movements and gestures. The boys also wear extremely elaborate costumes and it is said that the performance is very moving and beautiful. In addition to the dancing, Spain celebrates Christmas by finding presents in their shoes. It is very similar to how in the United States we leave food for Santa's reindeer. The children leave barley, straw, and carrots for the Three Wise Men's hungry camels. If the children have been good, they will find presents in their shoes in the morning, and all of the food will be gone from their shoes. Shoes are placed on the balconies the night of January 6th. media type="youtube" key="nfjW8ksFl34" height="315" width="420" align="center"

"Los Seises - YouTube." //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// Web. 14 Dec. 2011. 

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"Christmas Traditions Around the World : Spanish Christmas Traditions - YouTube."//YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// Web. 14 Dec. 2011. .

Spain's version of Silent Night: Todo duerme en derredor. Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz Bella anunciando al niñito Jesú Brilla la estrella de paz Brilla la estrella de paz. || Night of peace, night of love, Everyone is sleeping all about. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">The stars spread their light, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Beautifully announcing the baby Jesus. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">The star of peace shines, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">The star of peace shines. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Silent night, holy night! <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">All is calm, all is bright. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Holy infant so tender and mild, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Sleep in heavenly peace, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Sleep in heavenly peace. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Todo duerme en derredor <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Sólo velan en la oscuridad <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Los pastores que en el campo están <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Y la estrella de Belén <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Y la estrella de Belén. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Night of peace, night of love. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Everyone is sleeping all about. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">The only ones watching in the darkness <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Are the shepherds in the field <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">And the star of Bethlehem, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">And the star of Bethlehem. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Silent night, holy night! <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Shepherds quake at the sight. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Glories stream from heaven afar <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Christ the Savior is born! <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Christ the Savior is born. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Todo duerme en derredor <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">sobre el santo niño Jesú <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Una estrella esparce su luz, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Brilla sobre el Rey <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Brilla sobre el Rey. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Night of peace, night of love. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Everyone is sleeping all about. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Over the holy baby Jesus <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">A star spreads its light, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Brightly over the King, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Brightly over the King. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Silent night, holy night! <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Son of God love's pure light. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Radiant beams from Thy holy face <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">With the dawn of redeeming grace, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Todo duerme en derredor <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Fieles velando allí en Belén <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Los pastores, la madre también. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Y la estrella de paz, <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Y la estrella de paz. || <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Night of peace, night of love. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Everyone is sleeping all about. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">The shepherds, the mother too. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">And the star of peace <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">And the star of peace ||
 * ~ <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Spanish words ||~ <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">English translation of Spanish ||~ <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Traditional English words ||
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Noche de paz, noche de amor,
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Noche de paz, noche de amor,
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Noche de paz, noche de amor
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Noche de paz, noche de amor,

"Christmas in Spain: Around the World at Santa's Net." //SANTA CLAUS OF THE NORTH POLE. Father Christmas.// Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.santas.net/spanishchristmas.htm>.

"Christmas Traditions in Spain." //Christmas History//. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. [].

"Christmas in Spain." //World Travel Guide - Tours, Flights, Hotels//. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. [].

"Spain." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain>.