LIVING NATIVITY SCENE IN BEAS
There are numerous nativity scenes of all descriptions across the homes of Andalucía at this festive time of the year. From the large cities to the smallest of villages, it's a deep-rooted tradition which last stood the test of time. But not only can we see these cribs made with clay or plaster figures - There is also a long tradition of theatrical representations of the birth of Jesus across Andalucía - These are called the belenes vivientes - or living nativity scenes. One of the these has been held in Beas, Huelva province for the last 32 years. Nearly 100 people, both adults and children, take part in setting the scene, including even, washerwomen, craftsmen, bakers and blacksmiths, placed in a closed enclosure larger than 1000 square metres. This belen viviente, which is visited each year by more than 30,000 people, is organised by the brotherhood of the order of our lady of St Clare in Beas, and is open to the public until January 6.

SWEETS IN ESTEPA
Some 30 companies in the town of Estepa, in the Seville open countryside, have been busy for months making their famous mantecados and Christmas sweets. But now is the time when production has to be increased to meet the demand for these famous sweets. Up to 15 tons of wine doughnuts, alfajores christmas cakes, marzipan and mantecados of differing flavours and ingredients are made in the town which, at Christmas, smells of pastry and cinnamon. While in Estepa we can also head to the Santa Clara convent, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the town, where the nuns of the order of St Clare make mantecados and marzipans at this time of the year, in addition to the tocinos de cielo, pastries and sponges which they sell year round. In addition to its culinary attractions, we can also enjoy the numerous beautiful churches which fill Estepa. A feast for the eye and the stomach.

SWEETS FROM THE NUNS IN ÚBEDA
It's Christmas and for sure the majority of Spanish homes have already prepared the traditional tray of Christmas sweets, full of roscos and mantecados. In Andalucía there are many confectioners who make some of the most exquisite of the Christmas cakes. One of them can be found in the Jaén town of Úbeda, where the Discalced Carmelite nuns make their famous sugared sweets in the convent. Aniseed doughnuts, small chocolate rolls, swiss rolls and magdalena sponge cakes - which they have been making here for more than 50 years. At Christmas they also prepare Chocolate and Almond polvorones, brandy snaps, marzipan, pastelitos de gloria and angel's hair pastries. All these sweets and cakes can be purchased through the hatch which the Carmelite nuns have installed at the convent entrance. Exquisite treats which we have to try if we come to Ubeda.

LARGE CRIBS
The representation of the birth of Jesus using figures - the traditional crib - is one of the most typical parts of Christmas. There are small ones and larger onesand have been made by two Andalucians who have spent months in making a miniature city. This is the Crib made by Curro Marchena, who comes from Palma del Rio in Córdoba province. A crib with houses made of cork and figures which move thanks to motors and other mechanisms. Dozens of schools have come to visit it over the past four years, as they have another, made by Alberto Sánchez from Pinos Puente in Granada province. More than 5,000 pieces and 400 figures, the majority of which move, make up this nativity scene, where we can see miniatures such as a carpenter, a woman sewing in a workshop, a wood collector or a woman collecting olives. For the last 15 years this Granada man has made this crib, which is visited by many people each Christmas and until February. Visitors are amazed by the special effects - which as this electrical storm.

HOTELS AT CHRISTMAS
There are many ways to spend Christmas in Andalucía. The places most in demand are the rural accommodations. Restored village houses, hotels and rural houses, as well as isolated cortijos or homes in caves. The Alpujarras area of Granada province, the Cazorla Sierras in Jaén, Grazalema in Cádiz and the Ronda mountain range in Málaga, are some of the districts which are fully occupied at this time of the year, with both Spanish and foreign tourists, who want to see in the new year in the quietness of the countryside. In Almería too we can find one of these places in the Poblado de Las Menas, very close to the village of Serón - in the heart of the Sierra de Los Filabres and 1,500 m high. This old mining village, converted now into a rural hotel, is one of the few areas of Almeria province where we can find snow at this time of the year. Places to rest and enjoy the festive season surrounded by family and friends in the unbeatable setting of the inland landscapes of Andalucía.

POINSETTIAS FROM ALMERIA
One of the most traditional plants at Christmas is, without doubt, the Poinsettia, characterised for its bright red flowers which decorate our homes at this time of the year. Well, many of these plants, more than a million and a half of them, come from a garden centre in Almeria which distributes them across Spain. This attractive ornamental plant, which owes its red colour to the brusque temperature changes between day and night, starts its cultivation in this garden centre Almería in August, so that when Christmas arrives it's at its maximum splendour. There are different varieties of Poinsettia, known here as Pascueros, such as this which flowers later than the normal winter. Anyway, this plant is one of the most traditional presents at this time of the year, and its always present in every home in Andalucía to remind us it is Christmas.

PES The city of Cádiz is already preparing for one of its most popular and busy fiestas - Carnival. The performing groups who dress up and sing, are already writing material and preparing their voices, because the general rehearsals start on January 9 and continue until the 13th. But during the last two days of rehearsals - the weekend of 12 and 13th of January, the traditional gastronomic performances take centre stage ahead of carnival itself. The Pestiñada - named after the pestiño - made from flour and eggs fried and covered with honey - unites hundreds of locals and visitors in an excuse for a party and to try them. On the Sunday at midday the taste of the sea substitutes the sweet in the celebration of the Erizada and Ostionada. Hundreds of edible echinoids and large clams delight the thousands of people who congregate in the streets of Cádiz. This year 149 different adult groups have registered for the qualifying phase of carnival itself which starts on Monday January 14.

THREE KINGS IN THE SIERRAS
One of the most eagerly awaited days of the year by children is January 5th, especially in the evening, when the Three Kings bring all their presents which they want so much. In a small village of Málaga province Benarrabá, this night has become a party in which the 1000 locals of the village, situated in the heart of the Ronda mountain range, take part. All the locals sing carols while they walk through the streets of the village accompanied by the Virgen and San José on their arrival in Bethlehem and their stable. Later the Three Kings follow the star until they arrive at the stable where they worship the baby and present their gifts. Now is the moment most eagerly awaited by the children. It takes place in the village church where the kings then welcome the children and give them the presents that they have wanted so much. It's a hugely popular fiesta which Benarrabá has celebrated for more than 40 years and which now makes up part of the culture of this small village in Málaga province.