Ah Christmas, it is said to be the most wonderful time of the year. In the United States, Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, spending time with your family, and, in most Christian families, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is undoubtedly the most commercialized holiday celebrated by Americans. In fact, according to CBS News, the average American will spend $700 on gifts this holiday season, for a total of $465 billion spent nationwide. From Santa Clauses as far as the eye can see in the mall, to listening to Christmas music in every retail store you enter. Christmas is a time of good cheer and big spending in the United States. And what about other countries? Is the Christmas period all about giving and receiving gifts? Are children in Spain rewarded by Santa Claus with gifts and toys on Christmas Eve? In this essay we will look at what the Christmas season means in Spain and what traditions are prevalent in their culture. We will also examine American traditions related to Christmas and how they compare and contrast with Spanish ones. First of all, the Christmas season in Spain lasts longer than the American Christmas season. Although the Christmas season in America has no real beginning, the celebrations end on December 30th. The Spanish Christmas period officially begins on December 8, with the feast of the Immaculate Conception; and ends on January 6, or El Dia de los Reyes Magos (the day of the 3 kings). In this time period there are four other celebrations, including Holy Innocents Day which falls on December 28, "Nochebuena" (The Good Night) which is celebrated on Christmas Eve, Navidad (Christmas) which is celebrated on Christmas and Nochevieja (The Old Night) which is celebrated on New Year's Eve...... in the center of the card ......gifts from the children. Instead Gaspar, Melchior and Baldassarre do it! Children often leave their shoes full of barley and wheat on the balconies, porches or under the Christmas tree, so that the 3 kings leave gifts there during the night. In the morning barley and wheat are replaced with toys, sweets and other gifts! In conclusion, the Christmas season in Spain is a more sacred and traditional event than in the United States. If you were in Spain during this season, you would probably see large celebrations among family and friends, people worshiping in the streets and children swinging and singing Christmas carols. Presents are given at this time, but Spaniards see it more as a time of worship and family togetherness. Although Spain generally spends less during the Christmas period, the holiday is just as important as it is in America..