Apalpador
Every year, we try to feature a new and unique Christmas character from around the world that most people have never heard of. This year, it was Apalpador, hailing from the Galician region of Spain. He seems quite creepy at first when you realize his name means “The Toucher” and that he sneaks into homes in the middle of the night to touch little children’s bellies… but it’s actually very sweet. Let us explain…
The legend is that he “dwells in the meadows dedicated to making charcoal, a giant wearing a beret and a ragged and patched jacket, smoking a pipe and feeding on wild berries and wild boar.” Every year when he comes down the mountain on the night of December 31st while the children are asleep, he sneaks in and feels the children’s bellies to know if they are hungry or not. If they are hungry, he gives them a handful of chestnuts. Often times, the family also finds a huge pot of soup over the fire and the pantry stocked full of firewood and potatoes and greens, enough to last them until the spring. Nowadays the Apalpador brings children something more than chestnuts, and it is the occasion for toys, clothes or candy to appear at the foot of the bed.
Our family celebrated the Alpalpador of Spain with some costumes for the kids, a Spanish guitar Christmas playlist, and a “Guess the Christmas Object” Touching Game. We also went all out on the menu with featuring chestnuts in four different dishes throughout the day (smoothie, soup, casserole, mousse) and also incorporating his love for berries and wild boar. We washed the foods down with some Galician wines and a dessert of coal bites to honor his dedication to making charcoal.
ACTIVITIES
The Alpalpador Poem
Alpalpador Coloring Pages
Berets & Beards
Smoking Pipe Candle
“Guess the Christmas Object” Touching Game
FOOD:
Chestnut Smoothie & Wild Berries
Silky Chestnut Soup w/ Bacon & Chives
Galician & Albarino Wines
INTERESTING READS & CONTEXT:
