Barcelona December 2014

Our adopters, the Fabra's

Last year (2014) when Bonnie and I came to Barcelona we were adopted by part of the Fabra family. This came about by my working for Virginia Fabra on the remodeling of her apartment. It was enhanced by our meeting Virginia's mother, Marta

( Marta, #1 ) and Virginia's sister Inés. When I started touring the city with Marta, the daughter, the adoption process was set into motion. 

Over the summer while I was back in the States, Bonnie stayed in Barcelona and kept in contact with Virginia and Marta.  I too did my best to stay in contact with the sisters, Fabra.   There is a  21 year difference in age between Marta, the elder and Virginia, making  for more of an aunt niece relationship, then a  big sister, little sister relationship. 

I had a similar situation with my cousin Jerry Cantwell. While I was growing up, he seemed more like another uncle to me than a cousin, the majority of whom were close to my age. Although Jerry is only 16 years older than I am, a gap like that when you are young can seem like generations. Now that we are both old guys, our age difference has little significants. 

With my return to Europe this fall and my reconnecting with Virginia and Marta, came a renewal of the adoption process.   This process took on a confirmation process with me being invited to to meet Marta's lifelong friends and Bonnie and me being invited to the Fabra Christmas Eve celebration.  I've mentioned Marta and her two sisters. The three of whom make up only 10 percent of the number of people that would be at the Fabra's house that night. Between the eight Fabra children, their partners, children and adopted Americanos, we would total 33 for Christmas Eve.  

King Baltasar

King Gaspar

King Melchor

Of course, there was the exchanging of gifts, although the long standing day of gift giving in Catalunya, had always been on the  night of The Three Kings.  Now that the draw of Christmas has been introduced to Catalunya,  gift giving has gotten a bit confusing. Christmas Eve was to be my lucky day though.  Virginia had bought me a gift. A new electric drill with hammer action too. My first and only electric tool in Spain.  I almost bought an electric saw last year but between not really needing it and the outlandish price, I ended up not buying it. Tools, electric or otherwise, are very expensive here. That's why it was my lucky day. Virginia had put out some real money for an electric drill.

Being aneophyte Pagan, I had given Marta's, gift, her children's gifts and Bonnie's on the Winter Solstice.    

On top of this amazing scene and ensuing mess, there was to be a lunch the next day at Momma's, hosted by Inés. Fortunately for Inés, the number attending the Christmas Day Lunch would only be 14. A much more manageable chaos. 

Tio de Nadal-Christmas Log

Chaos is not limited to the Fabra home during Christmas.  All of Catalunya suffers a bit of chaos. Before adopting the tradition of Papá Noel from the French, the night of The Three Kings was the traditional day of giving. The night of The Three Kings falls on the 6th of January. twelve days after the 25th of December. Then along comes Papá Noel, who shows up on the 25th with gifts. Then as of late, the American Santa has been getting into the gift giving act in Catalunya. Although very similar to Papá Noel, Santa doesn't speak French, Spanish or Catalan.  As if there wasn't enough confusion with all this there is the old Catalonian tradition of Tió de Nadal. On Christmas Eve or Day. 

Tió de Nadal, is the tradition of the Shitting Log. You will have to read the link. It covers this Christmas tradition much better and with much more reverence than I ever could. You might think it difficult to give any reverence to a log that shits candy, but really, is that much weirder than a fairy that collects rotten teeth, or a rabbit that somehow can buy and deliver candy. 

Caganer - Shitter

For good measure and to make sure that I had the true Independent Cataluyna spirit of Christmas, Virginia gave me a little figurine of the Caganer.  The Shitter, compleat with the independence flag of Catalunya.   Again you will just need to read the link to get a full understanding of this Catalonian tradition.  The Caganer puts the humble into Christmas. There are a number of theories as to what it means to have a man taking a shit in your nativity scene ( Belén )  but for me,  he's just keeping it real in Cataluyna. 

Christmas day - with  part of the Fabra's

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were very nice and with them came Bonnie's and my official adoption into the Fabra Family. Our days as orphans in Barcelona were over.