Christmas in Barcelona
Yes, it is That Time of Year again, the Christmas jingles are starting, the kids scribbling their wish lists and the stores are putting up the dec’s in this years must have colour theme. If you want to get away from it all and get back to the real meaning of Christmas (and experience some unusual traditions) why not bring your family or friends to Barcelona? To find available apartments search Barcelona Apartments and Flats
Like nearly everywhere on the planet Barcelona has not escaped the commerciality of Christmas completely, but the Catholic community celebrates over a longer period and not in quite such a frenetic way as in many places. Celebrations start on the 5th December and days are recognised through to Epiphany, in January.
Barcelona Christmas Lights are switched on early in December. Then celebrations start with two public holidays. The first is unrelated to Christmas and is 'El Diá de la Constitución', celebrated on the 6th December. The second is ‘La Immaculada’ or day of the Immaculate Conception, an important day for Catholics and a national holiday across Spain. Mary as the Immaculate Conception was declared patron of the Spanish Crown in 1760 and has remained so ever since. The day between is what is known in Spain as a ‘Puente’ (bridge) between bank holidays. Most of the shops will be shut and people spend time relaxing with family and friends.
There are some curious and unusual Christmas traditions which are unique to Catalunya and therefore Barcelona. One is Tió de Nadal (tió meaning log here) or Caga Tió. This is a log which has a face painted on one end and with a red hat. These are usually given to children to look after from December 8th (El Dia de Inmaculada). Then on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the children hit the log with sticks, whilst singing songs, asking it to 'shit some presents'.
From the beginning of December you will find some traditional Christmas Fairs & markets around Barcelona. The 'feria de Santa Lucia' which is on daily from early December until Christmas Eve can be found outside the main Cathedral. It sells traditional Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, all the figurines for the Nativity scene, including the Caganer, (translated literally as 'the crapper' - a little gnome-like figure with his trousers down),´fertilising the earth', found somewhere in most Catalan nativity scenes. In and around the small narrow streets circling the Cathedral you can also find many Christmas stalls selling all kinds of unusual gifts, made by local artisans.
There are also Christmas markets at The Sagrada Familia, Plaça de Sants, Fira de Montjuic and The 3 Kings Fair on Grand Via between Muntaner and Rocafort. There is also a traditional Pesebre (Nativity Scene) set up in Placa Jaume every year, where hundreds of people queue up each year to walk round it, and also another pesebre in the walled garden behind the Cathedral.
Christmas Eve is celebrated with a big feast, often bigger than Christmas day itself. There is not a particular ‘traditional’ meal but people opt for something special, perhaps lobster and seafood. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are days to be spent with the family, perhaps attending church, eating and drinking and exchanging some gifts. Many families now opt to go out for meals on these days to avoid more kitchen drudgery, so if you are planning on being here for Christmas make sure you book a table before you arrive, or you may go hungry!
For the Spaniards the party is not over after New Year: January 5th sees the arrival of the Three Kings Parade which takes various routes through the city from Portal de la Pau to the spectacular Montjuic castle. This is a great time for the kids, the Kings on the floats throw out sweets and there is the opportunity to leave letters requesting gifts, which are traditionally exchanged on January 6th, Epiphany (a National holiday). The kids are encouraged to leave out a shoe on the eve of December the 5th, for the Kings to leave them gifts.
One last thing NOT to be forgotten at Christmas anywhere in Spain is the Spanish Christmas Lottery, nicknamed El Gordo (meaning 'the fat one'), the biggest lottery in the world by way of its prize money! It has been organised yearly since 1812. It is believed that 98% of all Spanish people take part in this lottery each Christmas, plus many other people around the world buy tickets for it too.
Barcelona has something to offer everyone and we have some great apartments available over the Christmas period. Whether you want traditional or modern, spacious or cosy, budget or luxury we will have something to suit. Use the search facility on the left of the page to find your Christmas apartment.