How Spaniards Celebrate Holidays – Christmas to New Years
Spain boasts a varied calendar of holidays that ranges from national events to those regional or patronal in nature.
On New Year’s Eve, Spaniards celebrate by eating twelve grapes at midnight to bring good fortune for the new year. Other traditions include setting off fireworks and wearing red, which is considered lucky color.
Christmas
Spanish homes often build elaborate Nativity scenes known as Belens to commemorate Christmas, depicting its story with creative and culturally rich displays that tell its tale. Families and entire communities dedicate time and resources into crafting these magnificent pieces of artwork which can be seen everywhere from homes, churches, and public spaces.
Christmas Eve in Spain is marked by lavish family dinners. Children usually attend church to visit El Nio Jess and receive their presents from him, while in some households children may also receive presents from Los Reyes Magos on January 6th (The Epiphany).
Tradition in many parts of the country includes beating El Tio de Nadal with sticks while singing an upbeat tune that roughly translates as “Poop Uncle.” The idea behind this activity is to scare off evil spirits and bring good luck for the New Year.
Spain stands out from western countries by not celebrating Santa Claus on Christmas. Instead, three Wise Men named Melecior Caspar and Balthazar are said to bring presents for children in many towns and cities during elaborate parades known as Cabalgatas.
One unique holiday tradition involves eating 12 “uvas de la suerte,” or grapes of fortune, at midnight on New Year’s Eve as part of its festivities. According to belief, doing this will ensure a prosperous and lucky new year ahead. In Spain, many Spaniards also wear red lingerie at this time to welcome in the New Year; although this practice might just be practiced out of superstition rather than practicality.
New Year’s Eve
Once Christmas celebrations have concluded, Spaniards quickly turn their focus towards New Year’s Eve or Nochevieja (Old Night), an occasion which brings family and friends together in celebratory activities that often include food and beverage.
At midnight as the clock strikes in Puerta del Sol in Madrid – Spain’s “Kilometer Zero” – an age-old tradition holds that eating 12 grapes at midnight before it stops chiming will bring good fortune for the coming year.
Another way to bring good luck in the New Year is to wear red underwear. Although more of an anecdotal tradition than anything else, wearing red underwear may attract Cupid’s arrow and bring about love in 2019. Furthermore, red is associated with wealth and prosperity making it a fitting choice on this festive event.
Other traditional New Year’s Eve activities include walking around with suitcases in hopes of an travel opportunity in the year ahead or drinking Cava, a sparkling traditional Spanish wine featuring gold objects in each glass and toasting for prosperity. Many families also make special dinners featuring seafood or suckling pig with sides such as paella and mole as staple holiday dishes.
On January 6th, festivities continue with the parade of Three Kings or Reyes Magos; children receive gifts from these wise men following legend of Jesus birth. On All Saints’ Day (January 11th), festivities focus on visiting graveyards to lay flowers for loved ones who have passed.
Epiphany
Epiphany marks the end of Christmas celebrations in Spain on January 6th with Epiphany or Feast of the Three Kings, commemorating Baby Jesus being worshipped by Magi. In Spain this event is marked with lots of gifts and parades.
While Spanish children do receive gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas morning, the most exciting present-opening occurs on the final day of their Christmas celebration – the Feast of the Three Kings. Children leave out milk and treats for the Three Kings’ camels the night before; when they awake the next day to find their shoes full of presents from him! Just like American kids leave out treats for Santa’s reindeers.
Epiphany marks a tradition where we enjoy roscon de Reyes cake, which features many candied fruits and nuts, along with dried beans stuffed inside to give away as prizes – the one who receives one must then buy another cake to take part next year!
The Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated across Spain with massive parades called cabalgatas. People often wear red lingerie as it is believed to bring luck and prosperity, while drinking 12 Uvas de la Suerte for health and wealth; eating lentils at breakfast symbolizes money and luck while some will also enjoy sweet treat turrons (ring-shaped bread) filled with honey as a treat!
Saint Joseph’s Day
While Santa is popular in America, Spain celebrates Epiphany on January 6th through Los Reyes Magos or “Los Reyes Magos”, also known as Los Reyes Magos or Three Kings with parades celebrating this holiday known as Epiphany or Epiphany – with almost everyone throwing candy into the crowd during parades! Another major holiday held annually in Spain around early March is Saint Joseph’s Day which ties directly into Las Fallas, an event celebrating both Catholic and Pagan traditions simultaneously. Valencia celebrates this holiday through Las Fallas festival that brings both traditions together in five-day event celebrating both Catholicism as well as Pagan influences into one celebration!
Saint Joseph Day commemorates Mary and Saint Joseph, his husband and Jesus’s foster father respectively. People will typically present gifts to their fathers or other significant male figures on this special occasion.
As winter begins in Spain, winter treats include nougat. This traditional sweet is made from nuts or cream and chocolate and often features different forms of hard and soft textures. Another favorite winter treat in Spain is turron, with various hard and soft variations being popular winter treats.
Other holidays celebrated at this time include the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Constitution Day and Easter. The former is a national holiday based on the belief that Mary was not born with original sin but instead “filled by God,” so additional church services will take place across Madrid that day. A tradition also observed at this time includes eating 12 grapes of luck (“uvas de la suerte”) at midnight on New Year’s Eve for good luck!
Easter
Easter in Spain goes beyond bunnies and chocolate; it’s a time to reflect upon Christ’s sacrifice while spending quality time with family. Semana Santa (Holy Week), where processions take place daily in various towns around Spain. Also during this week long festival are seafood specialties like suckling pig that you won’t find elsewhere!
La Tomatina, Bunol’s annual tomato war celebration is an exhilarating event during this season! Attracting thousands of participants each year, La Tomatina offers an entertaining food fight that lasts about two hours while providing visitors an opportunity to sample some of Spain’s delectable products!
Las Fallas Festival in Valencia is another highly-revered celebration that is sure to amaze both adults and children. At this amazing spectacle, giant paper puppets shaped like modern figures like Donald Trump or Shrek are paraded through town for this stunning festival performance that never fails to amaze. This unforgettable spectacle won’t disappoint anyone attending, young or old!
On the final day of Semana Santa – or Easter Sunday – children receive gifts from the Three Kings; typically candy or fruit. On this special occasion, many families gather to create the nativity scene together by pouring wood dust onto the floor to emulate sand, placing figurines, and lighting candles.
All Saints’ Day (Dia de Todos los Santos), is a more solemn holiday where Spaniards commemorate deceased loved ones with an elaborate meal including cured meats, cheeses and other delectable foods accompanied by cava or champagne to raise a toast in honor of these beloved individuals. This special event allows families to come together over lunchtime to commemorate these fallen loved ones in memory.
