Christmas is just around the corner! As in so many other places, Christmas in Spain is a time full of magic, traditions and special dates that mark our calendar from the end of December until the beginning of January, when the Three Wise Men from the East hand out presents to the children.
More and more foreigners decide to travel to Spain to enjoy Christmas on the Mediterranean coast to enjoy our temperatures and the sun that still allows us to enjoy the days outdoors.
However, and especially for those who decide to travel to Spain for the first time to enjoy these special dates, it is worth knowing the different celebrations that take place in our country and that are somewhat different from those that take place in many Anglo-Saxon countries.
If this is your case and you want to join our traditions, we invite you to continue reading the article prepared by our team.
What are the most important celebrations in Spain during Christmas?
Christmas is a very special and celebrated time in Spain. Traditions and gastronomy intermingle with days full of excitement.
Although it is not a Christmas day in itself, to return to our main customs, and above all so that you are aware of it beforehand, although it is anecdotal, the Christmas Lottery Draw takes place on 22nd December. It is customary for many people to dress up for this day and there is a lot of camaraderie between friends, work colleagues and family members with whom they share lottery tickets. It is very typical to share them among friends and work colleagues as a prelude to the Christmas celebrations.
We tell you how they continue in the days that follow:
- 24th December: Christmas Eve
The celebration of Christmas Eve is one of the most important moments for Spanish families. On the evening of 24 December, families get together to enjoy a special dinner, which usually includes traditional dishes and turrones for dessert. It is a night of family togetherness celebrated in Spain, where people share around the table and celebrate the values of Christmas.
It is also a day when the ‘Misa del Gallo’ (Midnight Mass) takes place and is celebrated at midnight in all churches with many people in attendance.
- 25th December: Christmas Day
As in many parts of the world, on Christmas Day families gather around the table. Just as in Anglo-Saxon countries the Christmas cracker is broken in Spain, in Spain the children are usually given ‘estrenas’ by their grandparents or parents, which consists of a sum of money.
On the fringes, especially the children usually have some presents prepared. In this sense, although Santa Klaus or Father Christmas is an increasingly accepted tradition, the tradition has always been that these presents were brought by the ‘Pages of the Magi’, i.e. the helpers of the Magi, who travelled ahead of them on their way to Bethlehem.
This is one of the main differences, because while in many Anglo-Saxon or European countries the gift-giving takes place on this day, in the UK giving way to the following day, Boxing Day, in Spain it is just a preview of the gifts to come.
- 28th December: April Fool’s Day:
This day is similar to April Fool’s Day in other countries. On 28 December, Spaniards commemorate the Day of the Holy Innocents, a date on which pranks, called ‘inocentadas’, are played on family, friends and work colleagues.
- 31st December: New Year’s Eve
31 December marks the end of the year and is celebrated with a big dinner and the famous tradition of the lucky grapes. Right at midnight, Spaniards eat one grape for each chime of the clock in the last 12 seconds of the year. Each grape represents a month of the year, and tradition has it that if you manage to eat all 12 grapes in time, you will have a new year full of good luck. This moment is usually celebrated with family or friends and with it we usher in the new year.
- 1st January: New Year’s Day
The first day of the year is a festive and restful day, when many gather for family meals, but it is also a day of recuperation after the previous night’s partying. In some regions, New Year’s Eve concerts or dances are held.
- 5th January: The Night of the Three Wise Men
Twelfth Night is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the festive season for children. On this day, in all the cities of Spain, the Three Wise Men parades are held.
During the parades, the three Wise Men, Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, parade through the streets, throwing sweets and gifts to the spectators. This tradition recalls the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem to deliver gifts to the baby Jesus.
- 6th January: Day of the Three Wise Men
6 January is Three Kings Day, known as Epiphany, and is one of the most special Christmas celebrations in Spain. The morning of Epiphany is the time when Spanish children find the presents that the Three Kings have left for them during the night. This day symbolises generosity and illusion, and in many families, it is the real day of gift exchange.
Well, if you have made it this far, you are now perfectly prepared to celebrate your Christmas in Spain.
On behalf of the whole team at MAM Solicitors we would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year from all of our team.
Happy Holidays and Happy 2025!
