Celebrating Christmas in Spain – Why and How – Story + Video

This is our third Christmas in Spain, and before that Amalia experienced Christmas in Spain as well. While the country is adopting a lot of the American traditions for the season, you’ll wonderfully find that the original Spanish traditions are still going strong. Yet you may be wondering, ‘Why and how do I want to celebrate Christmas in Spain?’. We personally think that Spain is a great place for enjoying the holidays. So cozy up with your favorite holiday drink and discover why and how you should celebrate Christmas in Spain.

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Christmas in Spain is Less Commercialized

Above Image – The Plaza de la Reina in Valencia.

Do you feel like Christmas is overly commercialized? Then you’ll love experiencing Christmas in Spain. It tends to be less commercialized than it is in the US and other major countries.

Now, Spaniards do love their shopping so it’s not void of commercialization, but it’s definitely less.

For example, the concept of opening gifts on Christmas Day is not as big. Yes, gifts are still given, but not nearly as many as what we remember from being in the US. Children still get the majority of their gifts on Three Kings Day instead (we’ll talk more about that below).

What’s the timing of Christmas in Spain?

Christmas in Spain typically begins with the start of December. That’s when the town decorations get turned on, and markets and special holiday events start to take place.

On one hand, we have begun to see Christmas foods (especially sweets) and merchandise, out in the stores as early as the beginning of November. But the local bakeries, especially the authentic ones, don’t make their holiday goods until mid-December. 

When does Christmas in Spain end? Well, you could technically say it ends with Christmas Day. But if you want to keep enjoying ‘fiesta’ (which happens often in Spain), you can stick around for Three Kings Day on January 6th (still more on this below). Now can you see why the Spanish culture is known for taking time off?

What to Expect for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Spain

Above Image – Christmas Markets in Valencia’s Plaza de la Reina.

Here in Spain, Christmas Eve is when families get together and eat at home. Then on Christmas Day, it’s very popular and typical to go out for a big, nice lunch at a restaurant.

Each of these days, some restaurants will be closed, but there’s also a surprising amount of them open. What’s key to remember is that either day, these restaurants will have special menus at a set price. For Christmas Eve, these can be offered usually at dinner time and on Christmas Day, it’s at lunch time. But the more typical one is lunch on Christmas Day.

These dinners definitely book up, so make sure to make a reservation ahead of time! Especially since grocery stores will be closed so having to make dinner at the last minute may be difficult.

The Christmas Markets in Spain

Above Image – Christmas Markets in Valencia’s Plaza de la Reina.

Spain is already known for its mercados (markets). Well, they get even more spectacular during the Christmas season here. Most countries have Christmas Markets, especially throughout Europe. The ones in Spain feature their local artisan crafts and goods, foods and pastries, and historically dressed musicians strolling about playing music.

In the cities and most towns, the Christmas Markets open up shop the first weekend of December. This is a time when we love to travel from our home in Denia to visit Valencia. It’s a great day-trip for enjoying the newly put up lights and decorations, the Christmas booths selling local goods in the Plaza de la Reina, and the street vendors selling things like fire-roasted corn-on-the-cob and, our favorite, castañas (roasted chestnuts).

READ MORE: Our Top 7 Reasons for Living in Denia, Spain as an Expat

Above Image – Where the castañas are roasted.

Above Image – Getting castañas from a lovely castañas lady we met in Valencia.

The goods you can find at the Christmas Markets in Spain are an array of traditional sweet treats and candies, especially Turrón. There are also handmade craft goods, usually by local artisans. You can find everything from hand painted ceramic dishware to clothes and Spanish leather shoes and bags.

There’s also handmade wooden children’s toys and fine, natural beauty products. Many times, the market may be a Medieval Market. Our home-base of Denia has a Medieval Market in the town center every year around the beginning of December.

Like any good holiday market, there is an atmosphere created and it’s about more than just goods being sold. The booths are festively decorated, the streets and plazas have lights up and large Christmas Trees, and it’s likely that nearby is a belén.

Christmas in Spain has to Have the Belén

Above Image – The nativity scene in Valencia’s Plaza de la Reina.

Ah, the beléns…this Christmas tradition is, we think, the pride and joy of most Spaniards and towns in Spain during the holidays. They are for Spain what the Christmas Tree is for the US. A belén is a manger, or more accurately the manger of the Christian Christmas story of where baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

The cities and towns throughout Spain have these nativity scenes built up to an amazing scale. Not only is there intricate, beautiful detail and craftsmanship involved, but many times, they’re very large. In Valencia, there is a simple, large one in front of the main cathedral in the Plaza de la Reina. Then, there is usually one in the center of the Mercado Central.

We’ve also seen some incredible beléns in the tiny village where my mother lives in Extremadura. The village’s church goes all out with their manger, which has even flowing streams of real water.

Above Image – The church belén, or manger scene, at the main church in Higuera la Real, Extremadura.

Record-Breaking Nativity Scenes in Spain

In one very small town in Extremadura call La Bazana, I visited what was Spain’s largest life-size nativity scene in 2012. It’s famous for this one amazing live event it puts on for two weeks in December each year. Practically all the local residents participate, from grandparents to children and even barn animals.

The whole town is transformed into Bethlehem as it must have been in the time of Christ being born and the residents dress up and are acting out chores of that time. It’s so real! People come from all over to walk the trail all through the town to see it.

Also in Extremadura, we’ve visited the largest indoor nativity scene which is in Jerez de los Caballeros. It occupies over 450 square meters, complete with mechanized figurines and streams of running water.

Then just in 2022, the largest nativity scene in the world is said to be in Malaga.

So maybe now you have an idea of what we mean about beléns being a pride and joy for Spaniards.

READ MORE: Visiting Extremadura – An Insider’s 10 Enticing Reasons & Itinerary Tips

What to Eat During Christmas in Spain

Spaniards love their sweets! Many of the traditional sweets in Spain are made with good quality ingredients and they follow quite the old, traditional recipes. Some are sweeter than others of course, but overall we feel most of them are not that sickly, sticky sweet that an hour later gives you a sugar rush.

There’s little caramel-like candies of varying flavors, the big cookies decorated with icing, and the Spanish classic, mantecados. These are found in any Spanish home at Christmas and we can see why. They’re referred to by some as ‘crumble cakes’ because they’re so light and crumbly, but they look like small cookies. The shape varies and there’s tons of different flavors, like chocolate, almond, cinnamon and others. But overall, they’re traditionally characterized by anise and how they melt in your mouth. I’m getting hungry right now just writing about them.

READ MORE: 15 Traditional Spanish Christmas Foods in the Valencia Community

Drinks for Christmas in Spain

What would delectable goodies be without a tasty beverage to wash it down with. Yes, mulled wine (vino caliente) is pretty well known around the world, but we think the Spaniards do it very well. We recently began seeing it advertised in some local bars here in Denia as fervudo, but we can’t find that on the web anywhere…know anything about it? We’d love insight.

Something we also love is the Spanish custom of enjoying liqueurs. Many of them are what they call digestivos or digestives. It means they’re herbal-based liqueurs that are nice for sipping after a meal because they help your stomach digest food. The most common of these in Spain are referred to as licores de yerbas, and also a licor de anise can be nice for the tummy too. These and Moscatel wines are enjoyed year-round, but are especially sought out during the holidays.

Extending Christmas in Spain with Three Kings Day

Above Image – The Three Kings parade in Denia.

Traditionally, Spain has the Three Kings as their ‘Santa Clause’. In Spanish it’s referred to as Reyes Magos and it’s celebrated on January 5th – 6th. Also known as the the Three Wise Men, they are the ones who bring presents to the children during the holiday season.

I remember learning about this as a kid visiting my mom’s family in the Dominican Republic, since other Latin countries celebrate it as well. I was fascinated by how children traditionally leave out hay at the foot of their beds for the camels of the Three Kings to eat when they come. The presents are then left at the foot of their bed. It’s just like the American tradition of leaving cookies and milk by the Christmas Tree for Santa Clause!

Over the past few decades, Spain has celebrated Santa Clause more and more. For children this must be great! Now a days in Spain, they get both holidays and, maybe, gifts on both dates. There’s Santa Clause on Christmas Day and then the Three Kings on January 6th, which is the Day of Epiphany in Spain.

On Three Kings Day, or the eve of, there’s an elaborate parade, featuring (of course) the Three Kings themselves. Even small villages celebrate this and it’s great to see how much fun and excitement is in the air as the families and residents enjoy the parade. The people riding on the floats, and the Three Kings, toss candy out the whole time. Gotta watch yourself, cause you can really get hit hard by a piece of candy or two.

READ MORE: The Holidays Continue with Three Kings Day in Spain

Enjoy Our Video!

Remember to play in HD for best viewing quality.

Have you ever spent Christmas in Spain? What are your favorite things about the holiday times there?

If you’re looking to visit Spain during Christmas, let us know your questions and if you need any trip planning help. It’s a great time to learn things about the culture and its people. It’ll be an amazing Christmas gift you can give yourself and others!