Search results
Sep 21, 2022 · The Basque Father Christmas. 9. The Tree Kings “The Three Wise Men”. 1. Spanish Christmas Tree. The Spanish Christmas Tree is one of the most iconic Christmas symbols and is present in almost every house. Taking out the Christmas tree and decorating it with the whole family creates the Christmas atmosphere in most Spanish families.
- Immaculate Conception
Spend Christmas in Spain like a true local. 1. Feast of the...
- Christmas Lights
Next to the Craft Fair, the city’s mayor puts up a giant...
- Spanish Christmas Lottery
The Spanish Christmas Lottery is the most remarkable and...
- Immaculate Conception
- A Visit from The Three Kings
- The Christmas Lottery
- Festive Feasts
- Hearty Dishes
- Spanish Christmas Sweets
- Roscón de Reyes
- Midnight Mass
- Beautiful Nativity Scenes
- Christmas Markets
- The Caga Tió
Fun fact: Santa Claus doesn't traditionally come to Spain. Instead, Spanish children get their presents from the Three Kings (or Three Wise Men). And these Reyes Magosdon't come on December 25th, either! Nope, kids here have to wait until January 6th, the day of the Epiphany, to open their gifts. But it's worth the wait! The day before the Reyes co...
The Spanish Christmas lottery is the biggest in the world, paying out more than 2 billion euros each year. For that reason, it's colloquially known as El Gordo:"the fat one." Almost everyone in the country plays, usually going in with their friends and coworkers and only buying a share of a single ticket. If a certain group's numbers win, the prize...
Of all the Spanish holiday traditions, one of the best by far is the abundance of multi-course meals. Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy some of the country’s most beloved dishes, which are served up in long and elaborate holiday feasts. The fun starts on Christmas Eve with an indulgent dinner, often including several types of tapas, soup, seaf...
When the weather gets chilly, the platos de cuchara(literally “spoon dishes”) come out. Think hearty soups and stews that are indeed best eaten with a big spoon, ideally beside a crackling fire. One of the most common winter dishes in Madrid is cocido madrileño: a multi-course experience involving caldo (a rich broth), chickpeas, garlicky cabbage, ...
No holiday is complete without some iconic sweets. When in Spain, forget the candy canes and sugar plums, and grab some polvorones and mantecados instead. These crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are often served after a big meal, alongside other Spanish Christmas desserts. The best part? They're super easy to make at home! Check out our polvorone...
Each Spanish holiday meal, from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day, is followed by delicious dessert. But on the eve of the Epiphany, the star of the season appears: roscón de reyes. This "Kings' cake" is a Christmastime staple, consisting of sweet brioche stuffed with pastry cream and topped with candied fruit. Its doughnut shape is said to be inspir...
Most people in Spain identify as Catholic. So it makes sense that after Christmas Eve dinner, many families head to church for the Misa de Gallo, or Midnight Mass (literal translation: "Rooster's Mass"). This special service is an affirmation of faith, and one of the most-attended Church events of the year. While it's not the flashiest Christmas tr...
If you visited Spain 50 years ago, you might have struggled to find Christmas trees during the holidays. Although they're more common now, trees are a pretty recent addition to the Navidadlineup. But nativity scenes are a different story. In more traditional households, you'll still find the classic portal de Belén (also known as the belenismo). In...
If you're into shopping (or sweets), you'll love Spanish Christmas markets. When the holiday season officially begins in December, outdoor markets are set up in city centers all over Spain. The vendors sell everything from Spanish Christmas decorations and belénsupplies to toys and traditional candies. One of the best things to do when visiting Spa...
Not to be outdone by the rest of the country, Catalonia also has its own unique Christmas traditions. This one might sound a bit weird, so bear with us here. Each December, Catalan families decorate a wooden log with a face and legs. It's kept in the house or garden, and covered with a blanket to keep it from getting cold. This log is called the Ca...
- Día de la Inmaculada Concepción. December 8th. El Día de la Inmaculada Concepción celebrates two things. Religiously speaking, it honors the Virgin Mary and is a celebration of the fact that she was conceived, born, and lived until her death without sin.
- Día de las Velitas. December 7th & 8th. El Día de las Velitas is how Colombia celebrates el Día de la Inmaculada Concepción. At dusk, people light candles and lanterns that are placed on sidewalks, in the streets, in windowsills, and in parks.
- Villancicos. Christmas Carols. No holiday celebration is complete without music, and Christmas in Spain and Latin America is no different. Without a doubt, one of the most popular villancicos is El Burrito Sabanero, about a donkey on its way to Bethlehem.
- Pesebres. Nativity Scenes. Come December, pesebres or belenes are out in full force. These nativity scenes range from simple and nontraditional (like the one at my daughter’s daycare that has giraffes and snowmen) to intricate and extremely religious.
- The Nativity or Belen de Navidad. Nativity scenes, called belenes, are very typical in Spanish cities and homes. Although they come in all shapes and sizes, the nativity scene always includes figurines of at least Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and the three kings, Baltasar, Melchior, and Gaspar.
- The Christmas tree. Though this is not a Spanish tradition in its origin (it started to be used in Germany around the 16th Century). It is not easy to say when the first decorated tree used for Christmas appeared in Spain, though it seems the first public tree was installed near the Prado museum in Madrid back in the Christmas of 1870.
- Villancicos or Spanish Christmas carols. Spanish Christmas carols are also a big part of the holiday season in Spain. These traditional melodies are called villancicos and are mostly sung by children during this special time of year.
- Christmas sweets (turrón, polvorones and mazapan) Christmas Eve in Spain is the most important gathering of the entire year for Spanish families. Called Nochebuena, meaning ‘good night’ in Spanish, Christmas Eve consists of a large and lengthy evening meal with the family.
Feb 15, 2024 · 7. La Nochevieja. Nochevieja is one of my favorite Christmas traditions in Spain, which is the last day of the year, the 31st of December. The family gets together again and eats dinner. Later in the evening, everyone goes out to the main square in their city with a Cava (champagne) and grapes.
Christmas in Spain. Each year between December 24 and January 6, Spain comes alive to celebrate Christmas, or Navidad in Spanish. During this time of the year, everyone strives to fill their days with happiness, joy, and family harmony, although some are more successful than others. Spanish holidays are a mixture of Christian and pagan traditions.
People also ask
What are the best Christmas traditions in Spain?
How do Spanish celebrate Christmas?
What are Spanish holidays?
What to eat on Christmas Eve in Spain?
Christmas Eve in Spain is the most important gathering of the entire year for Spanish families. Called Nochebuena, meaning ‘good night’ in Spanish, Christmas Eve consists of a large and lengthy evening meal with the family. At the end of the meal, typical Christmas sweets are served including turrón, marzipan, polvorones, among many other ...
