Christmas in Spain share traditions with the rest of the countries where the Catholic religion is practiced.  Like in any other regions of the world, families gather to share and enjoy happiness for this celebration.

The goal is to gather and joyfully share the good will and friendship due to Christ’s birth. The adornments and elements used to participate in these feasts are alike in Europe and Latin America, as well as beverage, music, dance and the habit of giving presents or share what we have with the rest. But also, the Spanish Christmas is a unique celebration with different traditions and habits showing Spain’s very true nature.

An important symbol of Christmas in this country is Belen. Representations of Jesus’ birth can be seen at the cities’ squares and in the small towns, also at the entrance of houses and in the shop windows too.  

It is very common that the Spanish Belens be very elaborated as to reach as much reality as possible. In many cities, contests are even organized to choose the best one. In many small towns, and during the Christmas Eve, on December the 24th, a “live Belen” is performed with actors, actresses and animals linked with Jesus Christ’s birth, a cow, a donkey and some lambs.

Also during these Christmas Eve and Christmas days, anyone can listen to children singing by the streets, especially in small towns, thus taking part of a very old tradition which is called to ask for a Christmas bonus. Though not so popular lately, some years ago, the traditional Christmas Carol sang by children could be heard everywhere, in their neighbourhood, or next to Belén. Instead, neighbours gave them some coins or sweets.

Feasts start on December 22, this day the Christmas holidays begin at schools and besides it is an important day because the Christmas lottery draw is held. This lottery is the biggest of Spain; it is a tradition being practiced by many people who think they can win millions of Euros. Since the year 1763, under the reign of Charles the 3rd, this lottery draw has been made without missing one sole year.   

On December 24, in Spain, like in many parts of the world, two typical traditions are being practiced in this day at the Christian world, the preparation of a special dinner for the family and going to church for the Mass of the Cockerel at 12 p.m.

There is a wide variety of typical foods that are eaten this day and other days of the Christmas feast and of course in every region different dishes are made. Some are typical dishes of the Christmas Celebrations in Spain which we can mention here: the small pork (cochinillo) and the lamb, birds such as turkey and a huge variety of seafood and fish even shrimps, crabs, lobsters, hakes, sea bass, gilthead bream and red bream. And for dessert, it is very common to enjoy a Christmas candy, mazapán, almond cookies and nuts.

About beverages, we may drink a cup of cava, the Spanish wine resembling to the French Champagne, after the biggest dinner of the year, many people cheer up and go out from their houses at midnight to go to the Mass of the Cockerel.

December 25th is the Christmas Day and it is also usually to have dinner with the family and in some cases, Papa Noel visits children to give presents, but this habit is not so popular like in other countries. The Spaniards traditionally wait to give the gifts during the Magic Kings’ Day.

On December 28th, it is a day of feast in Spain; it is the day of the Innocent Saints. This feast has also its very origins from a bloody event, though nowadays, the habit is to make a joke to friends or relatives to laugh and play with the people. This day really marks the day of the killing being made against children by Erodes at Judea. This day, many persons get confused because newspapers publish absurd or incredible news but all accept the jokes.

Of course, celebrations on December the 31st are an impressive scene. In all squares of the Spanish cities, have a similar stage and the protagonists are the grapes and bells. When the clock marks the 12 hours, all the Spanish people eat the 12 grapes, one by each bell’s toll.

According to the tradition, those who eat the grapes will have twelve months of prosperity during the year to come. Families and friends stay together for this celebration marking the end of the year and the beginning of another and in the case of the Spaniards; it is very common to celebrate the feast until dawn.