Spanish Costa Properties
Newsletter
December 2003

In this issue
1. CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN - HOW THE SPANISH CELEBRATE
2. FREE FLIGHTS - SPECIAL OFFER
3. NEW WEB SITE - YOUR FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED
4. ABOUT SPANISH COSTA PROPERTIES
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1. CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN - HOW THE SPANISH CELEBRATE
Like always the Spanish know how to party and enjoy themselves
and Christmas (Navidad) is no exception. One big tradition is the
Nativity scene (Nacimiento) which most Spanish houses have on
display. If you are in the Torrevieja area, visiting the
Archpresbyteral Church of the Immaculate Conception in Plaza
Constitución is a must. Every year a large Nativity scene is
built in the towns main square in front of the church which gets
bigger every year (the nativity scene, not the church)
As Spain is mainly Catholic a lot of people go to Mass on
Christmas eve then return home for a feast, normally of turkey.
Some people share presents on Christmas eve or Christmas day but
most wait until "The Visit of the three kings" on January 6th.
Boxing day isn't celebrated in Spain but there is more to come.

New years eve the celebrations start with a bottle of Cava. This
is Spanish Champagne and it is excellent! At midnight there is the
celebration of the 12 gongs with the eating of the twelve grapes.
This is a fun and yet tricky thing, try to eat and swallow twelve
grapes in twelve seconds! The idea behind it is that if you are
able to eat all twelve in twelve seconds, you will have a
prosperous new year. "But ,...how do you know when twelve o'clock
is?" Well, decades ago, in many families the patriarch would pick
up a pan or pot and just go at it hitting it twelve times. Today,
however, La Puerta del Sol in Madrid rules on that day! There is
a clock on top the La Puerta, and when the twelve sound, you'd
better be ready to start gulping those grapes. Just one word of
advice, before the twelve official gongs, there are the cuartos,
four gongs of a higher pitch that announce and prepare you for
the twelve. Many people confuse them with the actual twelve;
beware of the Cuartos!

On the Eve of Epiphany, January 5th, children fill their shoes
with grass or grain for the kings' camels and place them on the
doorstep. During the night, the Three Kings, known as Melchior,
Gaspar, and Balthazar, leave gifts in and around the shoes.
January 6th, Epiphany, is heralded with parades in various
cities where candy and cakes are distributed to thousands of
children lining the streets.

If you can't manage a visit to Spain this Christmas maybe you
will be able to next year, we will see you there.


2. FREE FLIGHTS - SPECIAL OFFER
Why not buy yourself a new home in Spain for Christmas, or just
after. We are giving away free flights to Spain to anyone who is
interested in buying a property in the new year. All you need to
do is book an inspection trip with us before 1st February to fly
out no later than 1st March and we will book and pay for 2 return
flights. All you will need to pay for is your accommodation. And
if you do decide to buy a property on your trip we will refund
your accommodation as well!
Call on 01634 862605
Or complete our form at www.spanishcosta.co.uk/form.html
(This offer is currently only available to people already on our
database who wish to fly from a UK airport and have a budget of
at least £75,000)


3. WEB SITE UPDATE
You may have noticed that the new web site is now live. We have
tried to provide you with easier navigation, more information
and more property details. We are still adding new properties
every week. This is your web site so if there is anything you
would like to see on it please let me know.
 

4. ABOUT SPANISH COSTA PROPERTIES
Spanish Costa Properties provide you with a totally personalised
and flexible property consultancy service. Together with our
Spanish partners we use a number of reputable developers and
estate agents, offering you an unrivalled selection of
properties to suit all budgets.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Roger Weavers
Spanish Costa Properties
www.SpanishCosta.co.uk