Christmas Day is a national holiday in Spain so shops are closed yet it is not a day of great celebration but rather a calm day when people go out for a walk, drop into a bar, etc. Often the national media will include a nonsense story in their broadcasts.
In some villages youngsters light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to carry out civic tasks such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration. It is a big celebration all over the country with street parties and special nights in hotels and clubs everywhere.
Until midnight people tend to stay at home and on the stroke of midnight it is traditional to eat 12 grapes, one on each stroke of the clock to bring good luck for the new year.
In Madrid and other main cities revellers congregate in the main square Puerta del Sol in Madrid and eat the grapes along with a celebratory bottle of cava then head out into the night until after sunrise. Every town has its own variation such as in the Sierra Nevada where the Three Kings Wise Men can be seen to ski down to the village. Santa may leave them a token gift on December 25th but the Three Kings are their favourites, especially Baltasar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.
During the day of 6th the Three Kings continue their good work and are seen distributing gifts to children in hospitals all over Spain. Menu Skip to right header navigation Skip to primary navigation Skip to secondary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Skip to footer.
While Christmas Day is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, it is not the day for presents and gifts unlike in the UK or North America. Instead, the 24th and 25th are days for feasting with family and close friends and also partaking in mass and religious celebrations. The 24th is also a great time to wander through the local market to witness the Christmas cheer in full swing. For children, though, the most exciting part of Christmas is undoubtedly January 6th, known as the Epiphany , or Day of The Three Kings.
This is a religious celebration of the arrival of the three Wise Men to visit baby Jesus, and it is customary for gifts to be given to children on that day in homage to the gifts brought by the Kings.
In most towns and cities across Spain, a large parade is organized welcoming the arrival of the Kings, and children gather to greet them as they throw sweets and treats to those present. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Sign Up. These days, some kids in Spain also open a few presents on Christmas day too, so you can have double the fun!
The Basques also have their own, more rugged, version of Santa — the mythical giant Olentzero. He wears peasants clothing, smokes a pipe and brings gifts for children on Christmas Eve, in return for food and alcohol. In Spain, you rock around the Christmas… log! Once the song is finished, they take off the blanket to discover all their hidden sweets.
The Basque Father Christmas. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Hotel CoolRooms Atocha. Villa Antumalal - Adults Only. The Zentral Plaza de Armas. Villa Nin Salou TH Villa Borobil Heated Pool and Garden.
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