Adelaide United’s Spanish contingent enjoy another Aussie Christmas

CHRISTMAS Eve dinner is the real deal for Adelaide United’s Spanish armada, as the trio again celebrate the festive season thousands of kilometres from home.

21/12/15 - Adelaide United Christmas _ Reds three spanish players (L-R) Pablo Sanchez with Maria Valdes and son Pablo Jnr, Isaias Sanchez with wife Sara Martinez and daughter Vega, 4 months and Sergio Cirio with partner Laura Nocea. Photo Naomi Jellicoe

CHRISTMAS Eve dinner is the real deal for Adelaide United’s Spanish armada, as the trio again celebrate the festive season thousands of kilometres away from home.

Isaias will host the show at his Mawson Lakes abode. And only the odd English word will be part of the discourse on the special day given Spanish is their mother tongue.

Isaias, Sergio Cirio and Pablo Sanchez and their partners will be part of the celebrations with the traditional Christmas flavours of Spain’s destined to be rolled out as everyone brings their own favourite dish to the party.

“We want to get together to enjoy the occasion without our families (in Spain) it’s difficult but we’ll do our best to enjoy it,’’ Isaias said.

“We’ll have traditional Spanish dishes. Everyone will bring a different plate, like the Spanish omelette, Spanish salad and croquettes, typical Spanish food.

“The Sangria (a beverage of wine and chopped fruit and a dash of brandy) we won’t have any, it’s typical for a drink at Christmas but we have a game to think about against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.”

After the feast is over the Spanish contingent will enjoy each other’s company until it’s time for bedtime with all planning to relax and eat leftovers on Christmas Day.

But no one is game to be Santa Claus for the party night before the real jolly fellow turns up after midnight.

There may be a small exchange of gifts on Christmas Eve but traditionally presents are handed out on January 6 — the day of the Epiphany which is a Christian feast day said Sanchez.

Sanchez says celebrating Christmas in the height of Australia’s summer is something which contrasts all his visions of a winter’s feast he had in Spain before arriving in Adelaide last year.

“It’s the way it is here,’’ Sanchez said.

“In Spain we normally go shopping, it is cold usually, it is winter and over here it’s funny. People are having barbecues and they’re wearing summer clothes.

“We show are families how warm it is here when we Skype them and we’re planning on doing that or using Facetime on Christmas Eve. It’s difficult being so far away from home but they can see we’re enjoying ourselves.”

Originally published as Adelaide United’s Spanish contingent enjoy another Aussie Christmas