Thinking about spending Christmas in Barcelona? Keep studying for extra on what to anticipate.
As the lights are up throughout the town, and the Barcelona Christmas markets are out in full impact, there is no such thing as a higher time to go to the Catalan Capital! In this weblog, allow us to introduce you to a number of the greatest Christmas traditions in Barcelona that may certainly put you within the festive temper.
Winter is a good time to go to Barcelona. Temperatures are fairly delicate at round 15 levels, and there may be little or no rain within the colder months. Winter is subsequently a good time of yr to stand up to some sightseeing. There are smaller crowds at common vacationer locations such because the Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas, in addition to much less busy public transport, making it simpler to get from level A to B.
With the delicate climate, if you happen to’re searching for someplace to have fun a white Christmas in Spain, Barcelona most likely isn’t the place for you.
However, if you wish to have fun Christmas with blue skies, surrounded by carollers, inspiring non secular buildings, and unimaginable Christmas markets, with out feeling the necessity to shiver your method by all of it, Barcelona is the place for you.
Celebrating Christmas in Barcelona like a neighborhood makes all of it that rather more thrilling, so let’s discuss you thru every little thing you might want to know how one can have fun Christmas like a neighborhood right here in Barcelona.
See additionally: Guide to Experiencing the Best of Christmas Around the World
Local Christmas markets in Barcelona
A big a part of spending Christmas in Barcelona is visiting the numerous Christmas markets.
See additionally: New Year in Barcelona
La Fira de Santa Llúcia
This is without doubt one of the largest, most well- recognized and oldest markets within the metropolis, this yr will probably be its 235th version, filling the realm outdoors of the well-known Gothic Cathedral with over 283 stalls promoting every little thing from collectible figurines to crops, to crafts and even Simbombes.
At this unimaginable market you will need to make sure to hold a glance out for the cheeky ‘caganer’ determine, which is a standard catalan figurine along with his trousers down, he’s stated to convey luck by fertilising the earth.
This place dates all the way in which again to 1786, happening on the day of Santa Llúcia, December thirteenth, it is a historic and thrilling place so that you can take a look at this winter!
Opening dates: November thirtieth till December twenty third 10:00-21:00
La Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia
These Christmas markets are barely smaller than the Santa Llúcia markets, however they’re positioned proper outdoors the unimaginable Sagrada Familia, which you will need to go to if you happen to haven’t earlier than (it’s one of many prime Barcelona points of interest).
They have a little bit of every little thing right here, however most significantly they serve unimaginable tasty christmas treats, reminiscent of roasted chestnuts, baked candy potatoes and churros with thick scorching chocolate!
Opening instances: November twenty fourth to December twenty second 10:00- 21:00
La Fira de Reis
This Christmas market in Barcelona surrounds the concept of the celebration of the three kings in Spain (don’t fear, this will probably be additional defined shortly), the day during which the Spanish give out their important presents.
Stalls on the Fira de Reis promote primarily child’s toys and presents, making it a reasonably ultimate place to go discover a Reyes present for everybody who you might want to purchase for.
Opening instances: twenty first December- sixth January 10:00- 21:00
Traditional Spanish Christmas Meals
Escudella
Escudella is a standard christmas hotter, a form of stew which accommodates every little thing. It has hen, beef, pork spine, ham bone’s bouillon, veggies; carrots, potatoes, cabbage. It’s a reasonably hypercaloric dish, however there’s nothing unsuitable with that when it’s chilly outdoors!
The good dish to heat you up this winter.
Sopa de galets
Sopa de galets embrace large items of pasta, with which one will fill your spoon. The galets are the massive items of pasta that are crammed with veggies or meats. The soup itself is a standard soup made with bouillon, making it a really comforting chilly winter dish.
This is normally eaten as a primary course as a part of Christmas day lunch, on the twenty fifth of December.
Canelons
Canelons, or Cannelloni, is one in all Catalonia’s favourites, normally eaten on the day of Sant Esteve, celebrated on December twenty sixth. This dish consists of Cannelloni filled with both hen or meat and bechamel sauce, the distinction between this and your conventional Italian Cannelloni is that this dish doesn’t use tomato sauce.
Traditional Spanish Christmas Treats
Turrón
Turrón is without doubt one of the most well-known Spanish Christmas meals that you can find in Barcelona, in addition to being present in Italy and components of South America. It dates again to the sixteenth century, and is loved all around the Catalan capital throughout the vacation season. Turrón tastes virtually much like malteser chocolate, it’s made with honey, sugar, egg white and toasted almonds or different nuts.
This chocolate is extraordinarily tasty and might be present in simply your common grocery store at any time throughout Christmas.
Mantecados and Polvorones
Mantecados and polvorones might be discovered throughout supermarkets and shops within the months main as much as Christmas. They are little baked and crumbly Christmas cookies served with “Moscatel”. The distinction between mantecados and polvorones is the form, polvorones are oval and mantecados are spherical. They are each much like shortbread, however simply are inclined to crumble way more simply.
These candy treats are tremendous common all through Catalonia, you’ll discover them in all places!
Crema Catalana
Crema Catalana is just about the Catalan recipe for a Crème brûlée, first present in Catalan books within the 14th century. The recipe consists of the usage of custard cream, over which sugar is poured and burnt with a scorching iron rod to create the trademark burnt crust.
This differs out of your common Crème brûlée by each its cooking methodology & consistency, in addition to its cinnamon and lemon zest flavour versus your common French vanilla.
Traditional Christmas enjoyable in Barcelona
Let us introduce you to some Catalonian Christmas traditions you might encounter in your travels.
El Caganer
As you wander across the metropolis you’ll probably come into contact with a small figurine, with a naughty aspect. El Caganer is a little bit boy who, in the midst of the nativity, pulls his trousers down and does a poo. Whilst this will likely appear odd at first to the typical vacationer, this humorous character is massively common in Catalonia. In reality, he’s seen as an emblem of prosperity, fertilising the soil of the land along with his poop! In Catalonia, households typically play video games with El Caganer and conceal him within the nativity scene for the others to seek out, form of like a ‘Where’s Wally?’ of types.
You will discover his presence all around the metropolis, and definitely at each market you attend. Stalls typically promote celeb variations of the favored figurine, so make sure to look out to your favorite soccer gamers, and politicians doing their enterprise this festive season!
Tió de Nadal
The Tió de Nadal is one other ubiquitous image of Christmas time in Catalonia. This Christmas log, also called Caga Tió, has a shiny purple nostril, smiley face and an lovable purple hat on its head. As custom goes, the hole log is introduced out on the eighth of December and, from then on, fed each day till the twenty fifth. When the day lastly comes, the log is crushed by the youngsters of the household till it poops (we’re sensing a theme right here!). After the Tió de Nadal has pooped, the youngsters will discover presents for them to open, fairly just like the Santa Claus stocking custom.
As the log poops, the youngsters sing a tune translated as:
Caga tió, hazelnuts and nougat, if you happen to don’t need to poop I’m going to hit you with a stick, very exhausting, very exhausting
This yr there will probably be a big Tió de Nadal outdoors of Barcelona Cathedral from the 3-18th of December. So what are you ready for? Go and see him for your self!
Nativity scene on the Museu Mares
What higher option to get you in Christmas mode than seeing the nativity scene up shut and private? This yr, on the Museu Mares, go to the newborn Jesus in an exquisite setting and utterly freed from cost. You can go to from 10am-7pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 11am until 8pm on Sundays and holidays. What enjoyable!
Consult the Council’s web site for additional data on timings and the place to seek out the Museu.
La Fira de Santa Llúcia Market
Everyday from 10am until 9pm, go to Barcelona’s oldest and hottest Christmas market. The Fira de Santa Llúcia is the proper place to take in the Christmas ambiance. With loads of stalls promoting handcrafted presents, in addition to meals stands and dwell music, this isn’t one to overlook! The market is such enjoyable for all of the household, with actions happening to entertain guests of all ages. Our tip? Buy come yummy churros and get caught in! There is a lot to see, from the artwork and jewelry, to the large Tió de Nadal. What’s to not like?
Take a have a look at the market’s programme right here to see what’s on.
Barcelona is residence to a number of the largest procuring centres in Spain, and through Christmas there are a load of nice gross sales and offers to get you within the Christmas temper. These locations are additionally completely glad to wrap your presents for you.
See additionally: Where to Find the Best Vintage Shops in Barcelona
The Diagonal Mar
A procuring centre break up into three flooring, to accommodate their 200 shops and 17 cinema screens, and even a bowling alley. This is without doubt one of the largest in Barcelona, and is recognised as an environmental mannequin as a result of their promoted values of environmental sustainability.
This is the proper place to your Christmas procuring as every little thing is in a single place, in addition to this the procuring centre is simply beside the Parc Diagonal Mar and Museu Blau, two very ultimate areas for spending the day as a household.
Glòries Shopping Mall
The Glòries shopping center is positioned within the Plaza de las Glorias Catalanes, surrounded by the unimaginable Torre Glòries (an enormous skyscraper which modifications color day and evening, it’s unimaginable!).
This place has 75 main shops, eating places and cinemas, with loads free parking, charging factors, they usually also have a youngsters membership play space!
Las Arenas Shopping Centre
For procuring like an actual native, why not go to a procuring centre that was a bullring! They have over six flooring, 115 retailers, a health centre, 12- display screen cinema, occasions corridor and several other bars and eating places. They also have a large terrace during which you may get a 360° view over Montjuïc.
Celebrating the Three Kings like a Local in Barcelona
Towards the tip of December most individuals all over the world start to chill out and finalise their Christmas celebrations, nevertheless right here in Spain, that isn’t the case. The first week of January is without doubt one of the most fun instances to go to Barcelona. People in Catalonia, in truth, will nonetheless be shopping for presents and getting ready their Christmas dinners, while you’ll be able to nonetheless admire the attractive Christmas lights throughout the town and put together your self for the arrival of The Three Kings or Los Reyes Magos.
These biblical characters come to Spain on the fifth and sixth of January to offer presents of presents and candy treats to the youngsters. On January fifth there’s a parade devoted to the three kings during which the Kings themselves arrive on the Av. Del Marquès de l’Argentera and journey 5km across the metropolis, ending on the Montjuïc Magic Fountains.
Traditionally, locals in Barcelona will go away meals out for the three kings and water for his or her camels, and a pair of footwear outdoors their doorways or home windows for the three kings to fill with presents after the three kings parade. The morning of the sixth will present for the youngsters an array of presents, so long as they’ve been effectively behaved!
Another enjoyable option to have fun Christmas in Europe…
Check out this wildly terrifying, but extremely enjoyable Austrian custom the place Krampus’ (half-goat, half-demon) run by the streets of Graz throughout the Christmas season, punishing kids who’ve misbehaved this yr.
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