It’s tiiimeeee | My first Christmas in Spain

On By NoémiIn #TravelTuesday

So, guess what? It’s that magical season again, I’m officially experiencing my first winter in Barcelona, and let me tell you… Baby, it’s a little cold outside.

Barcelona doesn’t really do winter like most places – and certainly not how England or Hungary does. The sun still makes daily appearances, reminding me that winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom – take notes Manchester, seriously.
While my friends and family in Manchester, and Budapest are bundled up in layers of coats, and shoveling snow – I’m here in a mild winter, and I can still sit outside with my coffee. Sure, there are some chilly mornings and nights, but forget the snow and icy roads – we’re talking about cozy sweaters and just a bit of crisp in the air.
It’s like the real winter is on vacation here or something…

Barcelona knows how to celebrate the season in style – the whole city gets a special charm during the holiday season. The streets are beautifully decorated with lights, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts lingers through the air. It’s like every corner is a scene from a holiday movie!
…and I’ve been soaking up every moment since the end of November – duh…

Christmas Traditions

To be a good Spanish household this year, we got our nativity scene, finally – Belén in Spanish. It is an important part of any Christmas decor here in Spain. Also, I’ve learned so much about Catalan culture since we live here, and there is one tradition I need to mention because I can’t get over it, really… 😀
It’s the “Caga Tió” – well… basically, it’s a piece of wood that families take good care of after December 8th, and on the 24th the kids hit it with sticks while singing traditional songs, and then, magically, it poops out the presents!

Imma let this sink in now before I tell you about the Caganers.
Ready?
… no, for real – ready? Cuz this is one of those “you really have to see it to believe it”.
So, Caganers are an essential addition to the traditional nativity scene with Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus and the Three Kings. – … and then hiding in the corner there’s this figurine that has his pants pulled down to his ankles as he bends over to drop his … christmas parcel. 💩
It has absolutely no disrespect or anything like this – it’s a symbol of fertility since feces fertilize the earth.

I’m sorry. 😀

Festivities are everywhere from November 28th through December and as early January rolls around, one of the most vibrant celebrations takes over the center stage in Spain: the Three Kings Parade!
Known as “Cabalgata de Reyes”. It’s a full-on street parade with music, and the people dressed up as Christmas characters throwing sweets and small gifts to children waiting on the streets. 
This fiesta marks the arrival of the Three Wise Men – they are the ones bringing the Christmas gifts here in Spain on the night of January 5th. It’s a beautiful blend of tradition, joy, and a sprinkle of childhood magic that truly kicks off the New Year.

Christmas Food

It’s safe to say my taste buds are also having a party this winter.
Churros dipped in thick chocolate? Yes, please! Okay, you got me… churros is an all-year-long treat, but sure it tastes better during Christmas. Also, let’s not forget about Crema Catalana…

I’ve been massively loading up on turrón, which is this delicious nougat that’s literally a winter staple here, and arguably the most Spanish of all the Spanish Christmas treats. 
The harder, crunchier kind is called turrón duro or Turrón de Alicante. Turrón de Jijona, or turrón blando, is the softer version. The other two newer versions – but still classics – are the one with chocolate and the other that is made of sugary egg yolks.
Fun fact: The 16th-century Manual de Mujeres – what else really, other than the Women’s Handbook… – has probably the oldest existing turrón recipe.

After you had the breakfast churros, then the turrón for dessert after lunch, now it’s time for an afternoon cafecito with Mantecados, Roscos, and Polvorónes.
These shortbread-like almond cookies are so crumbly and so yummy – ah, it’s a sugary mess, but it’s a must-have to make your holiday season a juuust a little sweeter. They come in many flavors like cinnamon, lemon, coconut, chocolate, anise, and all… Trust me, if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out!

Let’s open these three main bad boys and fall into a sugar coma together, shall we?

Polvorón – Mantecado – Rosco

Ha!… Just when you think that you can’t physically eat any more sweets here comes January 6th – the main attraction of the whole season, the arrival of the Three Kings, they bring the presents and the Roscón de Reyes. It’s a veeery tiny little light cake for breakfast – decorated with all sorts of candied fruits, chopped nuts, and sugar and filled with cream.

… please 🙏😭

… and if you are a foreigner, you might get lucky and find some of your traditional Christmas food in one of the Christmas Markets – just like I found Hungarian Kürtőskalács this year in the port of Barcelona.

I gave up – no more food, please… 😭
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I think, we can all agree that even though Barcelona may not be as snowy as other places, the city’s warmth and vibrant atmosphere make it a great place to enjoy the holiday season.

So, if you’re still considering a quick winter getaway or just want to experience something a little different this season, I highly recommend visiting Barcelona – but come quick, before the 6th of January.
It’s the perfect place to soak up culture, indulge in delicious food, and still, somehow escape the winter blues…

And who knows? You might as well fall in love with this city just like I have…

See you at the next one,

… keep it cozy! ✨🎄

Noémi

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43 thoughts on “It’s tiiimeeee | My first Christmas in Spain”

        1. Ahh another amazing experience! I walked it from Saint Jean Pied de Port (France) to Santiago de Compostela and then I went to Fisterra – a town near the ocean! You can find my articles here on the blog, if you are interested to read more about it 😊 It’s an experience of a lifetime ❤️

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  4. Unknown's avatar Anonymous

    Happiest Christmas to you! Thank you for sharing how beautiful Barcelona becomes in lights! Also how hilarious about the tradition of the pooping log 😆 All the yummy traditional sweets look delicious! One would need to hibernate for six months after eating all that sugar. Thank you for writing such a great blog, I so enjoy reading it!

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  20. Michael Martinez-Chung's avatar Michael Martinez-Chung

    Great article and photos! Spain sounds amazing during the holidays with the decorations and food. I have never been there but hope to one day. Like Spain, the weather in Los Angeles is mild in December. I can still go out in the daytime with T-shirts and shorts.

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  21. Hi Noemi
    Thanks for telling us about these Catalan Christmas traditions.
    Barcelona, with Christmas lights, looks like Bath or a German city. Nicely photographed. Thank you for sharing
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  23. Unknown's avatar Anonymous

    Sounds lovely. The first place I went when Covid lockdown ended was Malaga during 3 Kings festival. It was magical! I didn’t try all the food you describe though so I want to go back!!!

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