Discover Holiday Traditions in Spain

• December 24th: Nochebuena This is the undisputed climax of the Spanish Christmas. It is a night dedicated entirely to family and feasting. From late afternoon, a palpable shift occurs as the country shuts down and heads indoors. The feast, ‘La Cena de Nochebuena’, is a gastronomic epic. It begins with a long ‘aperitivo’ of the finest ‘jamón ibérico’, cheeses, and a lavish spread of seafood (mariscos). This is followed by a main course, which in the interior is often a spectacular roast lamb (cordero asado) or suckling pig (cochinillo asado), while on the coasts, a large baked fish is common. The meal is followed by the sacred art of the ‘sobremesa’, lingering at the table for hours with trays of sweets like ‘turrón’ and ‘polvorones’, coffee, and digestifs. For many families, the night culminates in the midnight Misa del Gallo (Mass of the Rooster), a joyful, community-filled church service.
• December 25th: Navidad Christmas Day is a peaceful, quiet national holiday for recovery and, of course, more eating. The main event is the Christmas Day lunch, ‘la comida de Navidad’, which is often as substantial as the dinner the night before but more relaxed, frequently starring magnificent leftovers repurposed into beloved dishes like ‘Ropa Vieja’ (shredded meat hash). For children, the Papá Noel Paradox is key: he is a recent import. While many kids get a few small gifts, it is not the main event. The big presents are traditionally from the Three Kings.

What happens after Christmas in Spain?

• San Esteban (December 26th): In some regions, notably Catalonia and Valencia, this "Second Christmas Day" is another public holiday. It’s a day for another family meal, famously featuring cannelloni made from the leftover meat of the Christmas stews and roasts.
• Día de los Santos Inocentes (December 28th): This is Spain's equivalent of April Fools' Day. Derived from the biblical story of the Massacre of the Innocents, its modern incarnation is a day for pranks (inocentadas). Newspapers print fake headlines, TV shows run absurd stories, and friends try to trick each other. If you fall for one, you'll be met with a gleeful shout of "¡Inocente, inocente!".
• Nochevieja, aka, The Old Night (December 31st): New Year's Eve is a major celebration, culminating in one of Spain's most famous traditions: Las doce uvas de la suerte (The twelve lucky grapes). As the clock strikes midnight, broadcast nationally from Madrid's Puerta del Sol, every Spaniard attempts to eat one grape for each of the 12 chimes. It's a frantic, hilarious challenge said to bring 12 months of good luck. This is followed by a toast with Cava and all-night parties (cotillones) that often end with breakfast of chocolate con churros on the way home.

How is the fools’ day in Spain?

Be on high alert on December 28th. This is the ‘Día de los Santos Inocentes’ (Day of the Holy Innocents), Spain's equivalent of April Fools' Day. The day commemorates the biblical story of King Herod's massacre of baby boys, but its modern incarnation is all about practical jokes (bromas).

• What to Expect: Friends, family, and even the media get in on the fun. Newspapers and TV news broadcasts will run absurd, fake stories. Don't be surprised if a friend tells you a wildly unbelievable story with a straight face. If you fall for a prank, the perpetrator will gleefully shout, "¡Inocente, inocente!"
• Regional Extreme: In the town of Ibi (Alicante), they take it to another level with the "Els Enfarinats" festival, a 200-year-old tradition where a group of men stage a mock coup, pelting each other with flour and eggs.

How is the new year’s celebration in Spain?

New Year's Eve, or Nochevieja ("The Old Night"), is a major celebration, but with a uniquely Spanish twist that happens in the final seconds of the year.

Spain has a unique and famous way of welcoming the New Year. At the stroke of midnight, the entire country partakes in Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte (The Twelve Lucky Grapes).