We all have our traditions of how to celebrate Christmas. Some countries open the gifts in the evening of the 24th of December, while other families gather around the tree in the morning of the 25th. Some countries eat herring while others prepare a Turkey. The definition of a tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. Hence, they can be as old as our memory goes for generations. If you are curious how the traditions and celebrations work in Spain, then keep reading.
The Build-Up to Christmas
- Decorations:
Homes, streets, and businesses are decorated with Christmas lights, wreaths, garlands, and Christmas trees. Traditionally, all the set up is done during the long weekend of the national holiday between the 6th and the 8th of December. Spanish homes have always given more importance to the display of Jesus’s birth (Portál de Belén in Spain) and figures of the three wise men. However, Santa Clause is well installed in every home for the last decades also.
- Shopping & Gift Wrapping:
People shop for presents for friends and family, often wrapping them in festive paper. In the old days, humble workers would receive from their companies a basket with goodies, wine and food, which now days has evolved in the “Cesta de Navidad”, a box with traditional beverage and snacks.
- Advent & Calendars:
Many families mark the days leading up to Christmas with advent calendars, candles, or wreaths. And during the whole month of December, there is many Christmas lunches or dinner with friends, work colleagues, etc.
Christmas Eve (December 24th)
- Family Gatherings:
Families often come together for a big meal in the evening.
In Spain and other European countries, this is the main Christmas celebration day, with a special dinner. It is traditional that all the members sing Christmas songs (Villancicos) and stay up until late, in some cases, they visit other members of the family close by to keep singing and celebrating. In the old days, after this big meal, everyone uses to go to Church at midnight, for the special mass.
- Menu: For Spanish families, a good traditional Christmas Eve dinner must have included starters such as sea food, cured ham, cured cheeses and croquets. As main courses, hot vegetables soup (Sopa de picadillo) and either lamb, roast piglet, or any other heavy meat. Typical sweets are nougat and caramel or chocolate tablets (Turrón), wine fried rings (Rosquillos) and dried fruits, all accompanied with a strong liqueur called Anís, to warm up in the long cold night!
- Church Services:
Midnight Mass or other church services are common for religious families.
- Gifts:
In Spain gifts have always been exchanged on the 6th of January, The Three Wise King day. However, since Santa Clause got common in this region, especially children, also get a present in Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Christmas Day (December 25th)
- Morning Traditions:
Children wake up early to open presents left under the tree by Santa Claus (or Father Christmas)
Some families have a big breakfast, often featuring pastries or festive treats.
- Feast:
A Christmas late lunch is the center piece of the day. Some prepare a table with the leftovers (Spanish families normally prepare a lot of food), and others spend the day visiting other family members for the children to collect their presents or get together to eat out and keep celebrating.
- Relaxing & Togetherness:
Families often play board games, watch Christmas movies, or simply enjoy time together.
New Years eve (December 31st)
Dinner and party
Families get together for another big dinner, similar to Christmas Eve. Members were their most elegant clothes and sparkling funny hats and tinsels. In Spain, New Year’s Eve is filled with unique traditions rich in symbolism to attract luck, love, and prosperity for the coming year. Here are some of the most popular ones:
The 12 Grapes
Probably the most famous tradition. When the 12 chimes of midnight sound, Spaniards eat one grape with each chime. Tradition says that if you manage to eat all of them in time, you’ll have 12 months of good luck. It’s a moment full of laughter, frantic chewing, and jokes because someone always falls behind, especially because you should be standing only on your left foot, to literally enter the new year stepping on your right foot.
Toasting with Cava or Champagne
After the grapes, toasts with a glass of cava (or champagne) to wish for a prosperous New Year, without forgetting to place a gold ring in their glass to attract wealth and good fortune!
Red Underwear
It’s a tradition to wear red underwear that night, as it’s believed to bring luck and love in the New Year. Usually, it’s a gift from someone close, which adds a special touch to the tradition.
Fireworks and Parties
In many towns and cities, after midnight, there are fireworks displays to welcome the New Year with joy. It’s also common to attend big parties and “cotillones”, featuring music, costumes, and fun until dawn.
Eating Lentils on January 1st
Although not strictly a New Year’s Eve tradition, on January 1st, it’s common in some regions to eat a dish of lentils. They’re said to bring prosperity and abundance in the New Year, as lentils symbolize coins.
These traditions combine superstition, humour, and fun, creating a magical atmosphere to kick off the year with positive energy.
Three kings
In Spain, the Three Wise Kings Day (January 6th) is one of the most beloved traditions, especially for children. It commemorates the day when the Three Wise Men (Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar) arrived in Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus. Today, it’s the time when many children receive their Christmas presents. Here’s how it’s celebrated:
The Letter to the Three Kings
Weeks before January 6th, children write a letter to the Three Kings, telling them if they’ve been good throughout the year and listing the gifts they’d like to receive. These letters are either placed in special mailboxes or given directly to the “royal pages”, the Kings’ helpers.
The Three Kings Parade (January 5th)
On the evening of January 5th, the famous Three Kings Parade takes place. This magical and colourful parade is celebrated in towns and cities across Spain, where the Three Kings travel through the streets on beautifully decorated floats.
The Kings are accompanied by pages, animals, and popular comic characters.
During the parade, they throw candies to the crowd, and children excitedly gather them.
It’s a dazzling event filled with lights, music, and joy, marking the beginning of the most magical night of the year.
Preparations at Home (Night of January 5th)
That night, children leave their shoes in a visible place at home, such as under the Fireplace, Christmas tree or by the window, so the Kings know where to leave their gifts.
They also prepare snacks, milk and cookies for the Kings, water and food (like carrots) for their camels.
Three Wise Kings Day (January 6th)
On the morning of January 6th, children wake up excited to discover the presents the Kings left by their shoes. If they’ve been naughty, according to tradition, they might receive coal candy (a sweet treat that looks like coal).
The day is filled with family gatherings and joy as everyone enjoys the gifts together. The most important meal is the “Roscón de Reyes” (King’s Cake), a ring-shaped cake decorated with candied fruits that symbolize the jewels on the Kings’ crowns. Inside the cake are two surprises: a small figurine of a king and a dried bean. Whoever finds the figurine is crowned “king” for the day and whoever finds the bean must pay for the cake next year.
A Family and Cultural Tradition
Although Santa Claus has gained popularity in Spain in recent decades, the Three Wise Kings remain the main figures of Christmas for many families. For children, it’s a day full of magic, and for adults, it’s a moment to share and preserve cherished traditions, marking the end of the Christmas season.
