One month before Christmas the city puts on its best clothes, dresses up for the festivities and the joy that this brings is contagious to every inhabitant and every tourist who is in Malaga.
The 28th of November marks the beginning of the Christmas season with the spectacle of lights which is always eagerly awaited by everyone here, even many people from all over the world choose this city to see this spectacular event. Being there at that moment makes the heart beat with immense joy. I was not able to attend the initial show, but it takes place several times a day and the lights are incredible.
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But today I would like to tell you how Christmas is experienced especially in the city centre, the historic centre and the most important streets, although I also like to walk through the smaller streets that have also been decorated. For this I went on a tour from the Plaza Constitución through Calle Larios, and then into the various streets of the old town to get to Calle Alameda Principal, where I first visited Plaza Marina and then the illumination of the whole area, Christmas decorations everywhere I looked.
I also walked through smaller squares where the party, the lights and the joy could be felt at every step. One of the things I liked the most, and which was very much in evidence this year, was that there were groups singing Christmas carols in several places in the centre, but they were Spanish or gypsy carols, that is to say, they put the emphasis on the autochthonous and I like that very much. The eminently Spanish was emphasised over other nationalities, which I think is very important, it is part of the tradition of a country. Even the songs in the light show are Spanish-speaking, which speaks volumes about this traditional festival experienced in this way.
On the other hand, the decorations have more to do with the true meaning of Christmas, with the original meaning of what it means, and this goes beyond whether a person is Catholic or not, whether he or she is a practitioner or not of that religion. The decorations include the baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Joseph, the wise men, the stars and much more, more of the very essence of Christmas. I think that's a very good thing in a world where many important things have been pushed aside for other things that are superficial.
The trees that are arranged in the various squares shine from a great distance and are a great invitation for people, especially families, to have their photos taken close to it. Of course there were also many tourists of all nationalities who live in admiration of the glow in the night, of those lights that illuminate everything and leave the eyes astonished by so much beauty.
Christmas should be a reason for joy, it means birth, so it should matter what beautiful things there are in the world, as I always say, beyond the belief that each person has. It means family, union, peace and happiness and much of that is missing in today's world, there are too many conflicts everywhere leaving aside the light of the heart.
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I was very touched to see so many people enjoying in peace, to hear singing, to see the lights, the decorations that spoke of stars, gifts, angels. It should be the same everywhere in this wonderful world.
All the trees were decorated with lights that made even the darkest avenue glow at night as if it were daytime. All the buildings were illuminated and light is life and joy of the heart.
Also many shops were decorated and I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful things they were selling for this occasion. There was a very happy atmosphere and an air of happiness. I was thinking how nice it would be if that air was present all year round and not only at this time of the year.
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I have published a lot in this community and with great happiness every time and I do this publication with great affection so that you can see how people live in the streets during these festive days, how many people there are, who walk, who enjoy themselves and how everything is prepared for this occasion, beyond the tourist point of view. That is why I want to emphasise that this year the difference, which you will see in the decorations, is that they attend to the original meaning of Christmas, something that is often lost through commerce and consumerism.
Glittering garlands criss-crossed the main streets creating a sense of being in another world, a very beautiful one. On the day I took the pictures, it was quite windy and they moved as if they were dancing for joy to the music that was playing in and around the city centre.
The city shone in all its splendour, the businesses and commercial premises accompanied the brightness with their decorations and lights, and each of the little streets acquired a beautiful, festive style, giving the most beautiful gift that can be given to the population, which is joy and admiration for beauty.
Thank you all for joining me today on this tour full of light for these special dates. I send my best wishes to the whole community. See you soon.
Amonet.
