Christmas in
Spain
Celebrated: December 22 through January 6 (Three Kings Day)
Signature traditions
- 1.El Gordo — the world's largest Christmas lottery, drawn on December 22 and broadcast nationally
- 2.Caga Tió in Catalonia — a smiling log children 'feed' for weeks, then beat with sticks on Christmas Eve to make it 'poop' presents
- 3.Cabalgata de Reyes — the Three Kings parade on January 5, with floats throwing candy
- 4.Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve, one with each chime of the clock
- 5.Polvorones and turrón — Christmas cookies and nougat consumed by the truckload
What's on the table
Turrón, polvorones, and roast lamb
Christmas Eve dinner is typically roast lamb or seafood. The treats are the iconic part: turrón (Moorish-origin almond nougat), polvorones (crumbly almond shortbread), and mazapán.
The iconic decoration
The belén (nativity scene)
The belén is more central than the tree. Towns compete to create the most elaborate community nativity scenes, sometimes filling entire plazas with hundreds of figures.
How gifts are given
The Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) deliver gifts on the night of January 5, leaving them by children's shoes. December 25 is more religious; January 6 is the big gift-exchange day.
Did you know?
Catalonia's Caga Tió (literally 'pooping log') is exactly what it sounds like. Children cover the smiling log with a blanket, 'feed' it nuts and oranges from December 8, then beat it with sticks while singing on Christmas Eve to make it 'defecate' presents.