December is undoubtedly a month marked by the approaching Christmas holidays. The streets are decorated with sparkling lights, and “Last Christmas” can be heard in stores and on the radio. If you are planning to visit Spain during this period, be prepared for some surprising customs that you will not encounter in Poland.
What will you read about in this article?
- When will the Christmas lights be switched on in Malaga?
- El Gordo: the world’s largest Christmas lottery
- Christmas nativity scenes in Spain – completely different from those in Poland
- A Spanish tradition: April Fools’ Day in December
- The Three Kings, gifts, cake, and… beans
- What does a Spanish Christmas Eve table look like?
- Christmas on the Iberian Peninsula is different than on the Vistula River
- Visit the Costa del Sol and feel the magic of Christmas
When will the Christmas lights come on in Malaga?
At the end of November, Malaga becomes a Christmas spectacle of light, color, and music in the city’s central streets. It is already a tradition, which takes on a different dimension every year – this time, the illuminations are being held under the slogan “Natividad de luz” (birth of light), and the lights will be switched on on Friday, November 28, at 6:30 p.m.
The illumination is similar to last year’s, but with the addition of stars. There will be 16 of them, placed on rosettes and 32 columns along the entire length of Calle Larios. The entire spectacle consists of 2.7 million LED lights located on 500 streets in Malaga!
Plaza de la Marina and Paseo del Parque will be decorated with illuminated Christmas trees and garlands, and a unique and new feature will be the light show “El pescador de sueños” (the dream catcher) – projected onto the facade of La Manquita Cathedral.
Starting on November 28, the lights will be turned on every day at 6:30 p.m. As in previous years, however, they will be turned off at midnight on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays to save energy. On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before holidays, it will remain on until 2:00 a.m. On December 24 and 31, the illumination will remain on until 6:00 a.m.
El Gordo: the world’s largest Christmas lottery
On December 22, Spain holds the El Gordo Christmas lottery. What makes it unique is that it is the largest lottery of its kind in the world, with a prize pool of billions of euros! The second dimension is typically symbolic, as for Spaniards, El Gordo is the official start of Christmas throughout the country.
Since the first lottery, which took place on December 18, 1812, its course has remained virtually unchanged. Almost every resident of Spain takes part in it, and the results are announced on the morning of December 22. They are accompanied by artistic performances in the form of a choir singing the numbers drawn, and the entire event is broadcast on television. The ceremony lasts until all the numbers have been drawn, which usually takes about… 4 hours.
Christmas nativity scene in Spain – completely different from Poland
What distinguishes the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula is the tradition of decorating their homes during the Christmas season. The Spanish have the same approach to the Christmas nativity scene as Poles have to the Christmas tree. Every year, throughout the country – on city streets, in churches, shops, shopping malls, and of course in homes – Belén appear, i.e., nativity scenes depicting scenes from the lives of Christ, Mary, Joseph, and the Three Kings.
For Spaniards, Portal de Belén is a unique tradition, which is why every year they buy new figurines and decorations to expand their nativity scenes – just as we buy new baubles and Christmas decorations for our Christmas trees. Then, during dinner with the family, they gather around the nativity scene and celebrate the festive season. However, in Spain, a Christmas tree (árbol de Navidad) is also a must. Decorations such as baubles, lights, and, of course, the Star of Bethlehem are hung on it.
In some Spanish cities, there are so-called “Belén Viviente,” or Christmas nativity scenes performed by residents in the form of live scenes. The most famous such performance takes place in the town of Arcos de la Frontera in Andalusia. The streets of the town are transformed into a real Bethlehem, and the residents act out scenes from everyday life 2,000 years ago.
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Spanish tradition, or April Fools’ Day in December
In Poland, we traditionally celebrate April Fools’ Day on April 1, but the Spanish have chosen a completely different day. December 28 is El Día de los Santos Inocentes, or the Day of the Holy Innocents. The origin of this unusual holiday is very interesting. It was intended to commemorate the young children who were killed on the orders of King Herod when he learned of the birth of Jesus Christ. The young child victims are called Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents) because they were too young and too innocent to have committed any sins.
During El Día de los Santos Inocentes in Spain, everyone plays jokes (bromas) and pranks on each other. As in Poland, the media also gets into the playful mood and reports false information. A very common joke, especially among the youngest, is to stick paper figures, called monigote, on other people’s backs.
The Three Kings, gifts, cake, and… beans
Christmas presents are definitely what children look forward to during Christmas. It is no different in Spain. However, according to tradition, Spanish children used to receive them a little later, and still do. While in Poland, presents are given by Santa Claus, in Spain they are brought by the Three Kings, and not until January 6!
Does this mean that children do not receive gifts on December 24? Nothing could be further from the truth! The figure of Santa Claus is now an international symbol of Christmas, but it is important to remember that every country in the world has its own traditions and there is always an additional opportunity to give gifts to loved ones – as is the case in Spain.
On Three Kings Day, you can’t miss Roscon de Reyes – a sweet toroid-shaped cake decorated with slices of candied fruit in various colors. It can be filled with whipped cream or custard – now also with mocha, truffles or chocolate, and surprises are placed inside.
It usually contains a ceramic or plastic figurine of a king hidden in the cake, which guests find in their piece. A dried bean is also placed inside. While the figurine represents good luck and the right to be king for the evening, the bean is a symbol of bad luck. There is also a custom that the person who finds the bean inside the roscón should pay for the cake.
On the Sunday after Christmas, Spain celebrates the Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia, or Feast of the Holy Family. It is a day that emphasizes the importance of family in the lives of Spaniards. Churches hold special services dedicated to families, as well as blessings for children and couples.
What does a Spanish Christmas Eve table look like?
Carp, kutia, dumplings with mushrooms, cabbage with peas, and borscht are dishes without which we cannot imagine a traditional Christmas Eve in Poland. However, customs on the Iberian Peninsula are different from those we know. The main reason is that Spaniards are not required to fast, so their customs may seem quite exotic. On the Christmas Eve table in Spain, we find… chicken soup, roast suckling pig, and, of course, fish and all kinds of seafood, shrimp, and lobster. It sounds like a menu in a fine restaurant, but for Spaniards, such dishes are an everyday occurrence. On Christmas Eve, they simply serve the best they have in their kitchen.
It is also worth mentioning Spanish sweets, which cannot be missing from any Christmas Eve table. While in Poland we find sweet kutia, full of poppy seeds, nuts, and honey, in Spain they serve turrón – a type of nougat made with almonds, honey, and hazelnuts. Polvorónes, Andalusian Christmas cookies, are also very popular. They are made from a mixture of lard with ground almonds and cinnamon. They are then sprinkled with powdered sugar and wrapped in paper. This Christmas delicacy can be easily found throughout Andalusia and Spain.
Holidays on the Iberian Peninsula are different from those on the Vistula River
In Andalusia, especially in cities such as Jerez de la Frontera, meetings called “zambombas” are organized during the pre-Christmas period. These are songs and dances in the streets accompanied by traditional instruments such as the zambomba, a drum with a characteristic low sound. During these events, the locals sing “villancicos,” or traditional Christmas carols, and the atmosphere is very joyful and unifying.
Slightly different customs prevail in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. In the Basque Country, instead of Santa Claus, gifts are brought to children by Olentzero, a character from Basque folklore who was originally associated with the winter solstice. Olentzero is an old, friendly coal miner who comes down from the mountains to bring gifts to children. In some Basque towns, parades are organized during which Olentzero walks through the streets, greeting the residents.
In Spain, it is a popular tradition for companies to give their employees a “cesta de Navidad,” or Christmas basket filled with luxury food products. These baskets contain Iberian ham, wine, cava, turrón, and other Christmas specialties. It is a way of expressing gratitude to employees for their work during the past year.
In larger cities in Spain, Christmas markets are popular, where you can buy decorations, traditional foods, and local handicrafts. Particularly well-known are the markets in Madrid, which take place in the Plaza Mayor, and in Barcelona, where the Fira de Santa Llúcia is organized.
In Catalonia and several other regions, December 26 is celebrated as Saint Stephen’s Day (San Esteban). It is a public holiday, which is used for family gatherings, especially with those who were not seen on Christmas Eve. The traditional dish in Catalonia on this day is canelones, or baked pasta tubes stuffed with meat.
Visit the Costa del Sol and feel the magic of Christmas
Here, the sun shines for over 320 days a year, and the Christmas and New Year period is no different. More and more of our compatriots are choosing to spend it in Spain, learning about local customs and traditions and enjoying the unique atmosphere. Marbella’s microclimate means that between December and February, the average temperature ranges from 8-20°C, depending on the time of day. This is ideal for exploring this wonderful region during the special holiday season.
Read about other customs observed in Spain and Andalusia during Christmas. Merry Christmas!
