Dec 23, 2024
Christmas Eve, Christmas
The most important winter holiday in Spain is Christmas, celebrated around the family table on the night of December 24th and 25th.
The festive spirit illuminates Spain with colorful lights that adorn cities, inviting visitors on enchanting Christmas strolls. From the end of November, the streets are filled with nativity scenes, Christmas markets, and delicious street foods like roasted chestnuts, creating a magical atmosphere.
Friends, neighbors, and relatives actively greet each other on the holidays, and some, in the old-fashioned way, send handwritten cards to their friends, which is a very touching gesture of kindness..
Nativity scenes are set up in homes: scenes of Christ's coming into the world are recreated using dozens of different figures of people and animals. Every year, heavy boxes are taken out of the cupboards and the whole family begins to build a small stable, arranging the figures of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Magi, not forgetting the smallest details - it goes without saying that the largest cribs can contain up to 1,000 figures or more! As a general rule, the figures for the nativity scene are passed down from generation to generation, increasing in number.
Christmas in Spain and Valencia is typically celebrated with a family feast. Preparations for Christmas dinner typically begin two or three days before the holiday, so it's not difficult to imagine the abundance of dishes that can be found on the Valencian table on this night, which in Spanish is called "Nochebuena."
Among Spain's well-known seafood offerings, Christmas dishes grace the tables on December 24th, with Serrano ham, fish, and shrimp. Enjoy Christmas desserts like the almond turrón, while Roscón de Reyes, a cake with hidden surprises, kicks off the menu on January 6th, Three Kings' Day.
New Year's Eve
As the Christmas festivities fade, excitement peaks for New Year's Eve, a time when Spaniards eagerly anticipate the arrival of the new year. More than just a countdown, it's a night of vibrant traditions and joyful reunions with loved ones..
A delicious and unique Spanish custom during this celebration involves eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight. With each chime representing the coming 12 months, the tradition symbolizes luck and prosperity for the coming year. This joyful ritual is embraced throughout the country, in homes or lively public squares, where locals and tourists come together to welcome the new year in an electric atmosphere.
There are different theories about the origin of this custom, the most common being associated with Alicante in 1909. At that time, the province was enjoying an exceptional grape harvest, and producers were faced with a surplus that needed to be sold quickly.
The solution was brilliant: during the Christmas holidays, a campaign was launched promoting the idea of eating 12 grapes to the rhythm of the New Year's chimes, associating this act with bringing good luck and prosperity throughout the 12 months of the year. This tradition was so popular that now every year, during the chimes of the clock, Spaniards make 12 wishes and eat 12 grapes. Well, this is only good for grape growers)
Another fun New Year's tradition is wearing red underwear. Regardless of current color trends, this hue takes center stage every Christmas and becomes indispensable on New Year's Eve.
On New Year's Eve, some prefer the comfort of their own homes, but most celebrate the New Year in city squares and take the opportunity to witness dazzling fireworks.
New Year's Eve isn't just a countdown; it's a lively holiday where beloved customs blend seamlessly with the excitement of new beginnings.
And of course, the culmination of the Christmas festivities is the Three Kings Parade, which both adults and children eagerly await on January 5th. In this colorful parade, candy is usually distributed to children, and the vibrant spectacle attracts thousands of residents and guests from the cities..