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Spanish Christmas Destination

Spanish Christmas as a vacation destination has lots to offer you and your family.

It gets cold like other places in Europe but if you stay in Barcelona it’s usually warmer with temperatures between 43°F and 57°F.

If you really like warm weather and a guarantee of pretty good weather you should stay at Andalusia where temperatures range between 48°F and 63°F.

Of course, also the southern coast is quite warm (and rainy) during the month of December.

One of the best things I found about a Spanish Christmas is it’s far less commercial than you’ll find in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Only the biggest stores go to great lengths with all kind of Christmas lights and decorations though there are lights in the public streets.

Most Spanish families and neighborhoods do not hang lights out on their homes, it’s just not part of their tradition.

The Spaniards do have traditions similar to other places which celebrate Christmas with the nativity scene being especially important.

There is also a tradition called “aguinaldo”. This is basically a mix of Christmas Caroling and trick-or-treating. The kids get together in groups and will sing Christmas carols outside of a home and usually the people who live in that home will give them some candy or small coins in exchange for their singing.

December 22 is a big day for the Spaniards dating back to 1673 and the time of Carlos III. he established the Christmas lottery which everyone in Spain would love to win. It’s happened every year since 1673.

It’s a little bit different in that most Spaniards don’t exchange gifts on December 25.

They do have a “Papa Noel” which is the equivalent of our Santa Claus here in the states. Some kids do get minor gifts on Christmas Day.

By far the bigger gift exchange day where the best, most expensive gifts are exchanged happens on Three King’s day.

Three Kings Day is January 6 and is preceded on January 5 by a parade where the three kings arrive in the city. This is when the children ask them for gifts then they leave their shoes out on the balcony or other visible place and hope after they awaken from their normal slumber they will find their gifts.

Spanish Christmas is a wonderfully festive and lengthy celebration which is great fun for all especially if you have young kids and want them to get a taste of a different style of celebration.

Long after most countries have already packed up their decorations and moved on with “business as usual” in the new year the Spaniards are still going strong with three Kings Day.

There is also interesting and tasty sounding food like marzipan and pastel de navidad (Christmas Nut Cups). Both are tasty treats which are sure to liven up your holiday celebration if you’re staying close to home this year.

Leave me your comments with other tasty Spanish Christmas treats as well as any details of time you spent in Spain over the Christmas holidays.

Also check out this story about Hawaiian Christmas or Christmas in France if those destinations are more to your liking.