Christmas in Spain is full of excitement and tradition.
During these holidays, we gather with family and friends for lunch and dinner, to visit the decorated and illuminated streets of our towns and cities and, of course, to do the typical Christmas shopping.
In this article, we will show you which are the Christmas traditions in Spain and all the important celebrations.
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When is Christmas in Spain? Important days
Christmas in Spain is set by the religious-Catholic calendar.
The celebrations begin on December 24th, Christmas Eve ( celebrating the birth of Jesus), and end on January 6th, Three Kings Day, which happens during the school vacations.
The most important dates of Christmas in Spain are:
- December 24th (Christmas Eve).
- December 25th (Christmas).
- December 31st (New Year’s Eve).
- January 1st (New Year’s Day).
- January 6th ( Three Kings Day or Epiphany).
It is usual to spend December 24th and 25th with the family, while on December 31st and January 1st many people get together with friends or take a short trip to welcome the new year.
As for the Three Kings’ Day, it is a magical and exciting holiday for children, and the parades and processions during the afternoon and evening of the 5th are very popular.
Some Christmas traditions in Spain
Christmas “El Gordo”
Although the official dates of Christmas in Spain are from December 24 to January 6, the truth is that the festive spirit takes over our homes a few weeks before.
In fact, during the Constitution and Immaculate Conception festivities (December 6 and 8, respectively) it is common to decorate houses with Christmas cribs, trees, lights or garlands.
Additionally, on December 22 there is a lottery draw known as “El Gordo”, which is considered one of the oldest lottery draws in the world and distributes many prizes.
The Christmas crib
One of the most deeply established Christmas traditions in Spain are the Christmas cribs or nativity scenes, which are placed in almost every home and can also be seen in stores, streets, town halls, shopping malls and churches.
There are cribs and nativity scenes of different styles and sizes (some of them are “life-size”) and all of them include, at least, the figures of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the three Wise Men (Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar), a mule and an ox.
Shepherds are also very common.
In some regions of the Spanish Levante, such as the Valencian Community or Catalonia, the figure of the “caganer” is added, which is symbolic and adds a touch of humor to the set.
Take a look at the festivities in Spain that you can’t miss.
Christmas carols
During Christmas in Spain, Christmas carols are sung, songs with catchy and very cheerful melodies, with a strong religious character.
Some of the most popular carols are “Los peces en el río”, “25 de diciembre”, “Campana sobre campana”, “La marimorena”, “Ay del chiquirritín” or “Hacia Belén va una burra”.
Back in the day, children used to sing Christmas carols on the streets and in the houses of their family members, neighbors or friends and asked for money in return, something known as “el aguinaldo” (the Christmas bonus).
The ” Misa del Gallo” (Midnight Mass)
Another one of the oldest Spanish Christmas traditions is the “Misa del Gallo” (Midnight Mass).
This religious celebration takes place in churches on December 24th, at midnight, and represents the birth of God.
What are the typical Spanish Christmas meals?
As for the typical Spanish Christmas meals, they vary a lot depending on each family or autonomous community.
During the Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch, it is traditional to eat stuffed turkey and roast meat (lamb, capon or piglet) or fish (monkfish or cod), as well as canapés, ham and seafood ( shrimp, lobster, etc.).
In Valencia, on Christmas Day, the “Puchero” is eaten with meat balls.
On the occasion of these special dates, cava and cider to toast, as well as some typical sweets such as polvorones, turrones or peladillas, and homemade desserts such as sweet potato cakes (typical of Valencia), mantecados or pestiños, cannot be missing on the tables.
On December 26th, in some regions of our country, San Esteban (also called “Second Christmas Day”) is celebrated.
The typical meal of this family day is cannelloni, which are made with the leftovers of the Christmas stew with the intention of not wasting the leftovers of the previous meals.
Another well-established Christmas tradition in Spain is to eat 12 grapes at midnight from December 31st to January 1st, following the rhythm of the ringing of the Bells (Campanadas).
After eating the «lucky grapes», people toast with champagne, make wishes and celebrate the New Year with all their loved ones.
You may be interested in: Typical Spanish winter dishes.
When are Christmas gifts distributed in Spain? Santa Claus and the Three Kings
In a post about how Christmas is celebrated in Spain, we cannot forget the traditional gifts.
Every member of the family receives a gift at this time of the year.
Some typical gifts are perfumes and accessories such as handbags, wallets, belts, gloves or scarves.
In many Spanish families, sweaters, ties or socks with Christmas themes are also given as gifts, as well as pajamas so that everyone matches.
Bottles of wine or liquors, bouquets of flowers, books and electronic devices are also common gifts for Christmas, although more and more people decide to give their relatives gastronomic experiences, cultural getaways or trips.
Discover our one-day guided tours from Valencia.
And for the little ones in the house?
Undoubtedly, children are the true protagonists of Christmas in Spain, a time of year that they live with special enthusiasm.
Most of the gifts are for them, mainly games and toys that come from the hands of magical characters such as Santa Claus and the Three Kings.
Unlike in Anglo-Saxon cultures, in Spain Christmas gifts can be opened on two dates: either in the morning of December 25th (Christmas), waiting for Santa Claus to have done his work during the night, or in the morning of January 6th, when the Three Kings have already left for the East.
In many Spanish residences the tradition of handing out gifts on Three Kings Day is still maintained, giving the children a small gift for Christmas, while in other homes it is the other way around: on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day gifts are opened for everyone, and on Three Kings Day gifts are only given to the children.
How is Christmas celebrated in Spain?
At Españolé, many of our students come to study Spanish in our country with the intention of getting to know and experience all of our traditions, customs and celebrations.
If you are thinking about studying our language but in a totally different way from what you are used to, at Españolé we give you the opportunity to choose an intensive Spanish course in Valencia or one of our private Spanish classes and live a new experience that you will never forget.
We offer housing options for foreign students in Valencia so you can have a pleasant and peaceful stay, and not worry about anything.
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