Christmas is "Zambomba" in Andalusia.

Zambomba at Peña de la Buleria in Jerez

ZAMBOMBA, is an instrument used during the Christmas holidays here in Andalusia, which also happens to be the name of the event where singing, and caroling takes place.

A zambomba sounds like a hoarse howling monkey.
Sorry, you just have to hear it. :-) 

The Zambomba instrument looks like a drum, made with a stick/cane that attaches to the center of a tensed cloth, and vibrates when hands slide up and down the cane.  To protect your hands from all the rubbing, you have to keep a bucket of water next to the zambomba and frequently wet your hands.  People have to take turns to play the instrument, because it is hard work.

During the holidays, there are many zambomba parties occurring at the same time, it is hard to choose just one.  Many happen to be in the same neighborhood, so instead of staying in just one party, people walk around from zambomba to zambomba.  It is lots of fun, you meet people on the way, and join larger groups, then you eat pestiños, drink, sing, all over again.  Many zambombas start around lunchtime and continue past midnight, so you can visit  the same zambomba at different times of the day.  

Some zambombas are outdoors, and have fire pits to gather and warm your hands.  Other zambombas are indoors, with a central courtyard where people gather, and others are private by invitation only.  The best ones are where your friends are, of course.  Lately Zambombas are also presented at theaters with famous singers and musicians of well known gypsy families, and are proving to be a hit.  The are sold out months in advanced.

Zambomba at the Cruz Blanca bar in Jerez

Zambomba in Jerez

People usually gather around the musicians and sing popular songs.  It helps if you know the words to the songs.  I carry along a book with the words and try to do my best.  By the time I find the song in the book, they have moved into another song, ha, ha.  So now you eat, drink and continue singing, repeat as many times as needed. 

A great zambomba must have sweet sherry or vino dulce, sweet sticky cookies or pestiños (made with honey and sprinkles) and merry spirits, this is the flavor of Christmas in Andalusia.

Pestiños, anise orange scented fried dough with honey syrup and sprinkles

I know you are eyeing the pestiños, so here is the receta en español and for the English recipe click here.

As a final note: You may encounter people who will correct you and tell you that the zambomba is the name of the instrument, and that the party is called zambombá, accentuating the last a.  This is wrong, both instrument and party are the same word and pronounced exactly the same with accent on the o, zamBOMba.  

Long ago, when people in Andalusia lived in buildings with common courtyards, the neighbors would get together and say, lets make a zambomba, and they meant, construct an instrument, and in the process, they would bring drinks and food.  When the zambomba was finished, they would gather around the zambomba with other home made instruments, and noise making objects (Anise licor bottle, brass mortar and pestle, tambourines, sticks) and assemble a music band, and sing Christmas songs.  In Spanish one says, " vamos a hacer una zambomba" , let make/have a zambomba, for in Spanish lets make, and lets have is the same.  So when someone tells to you - "vamos a hacer una zambomba ¿Quieres venir?" they are probably inviting you to a party, not to make an instrument. :-)