Christmas in Spain: traditions, dates and what to expect
Updated October 4, 2026
Christmas in Spain lasts from early December until the Three Kings on 6 January. Streets fill with lights and markets, families gather for long dinners, and the biggest day for children is not the 25th but the 6th of January. Here is what to know before you travel.
Dates to know
22 December: the El Gordo lottery draw, sung on TV by schoolchildren. 24 December: Nochebuena, the big family dinner. 25 December and 1 January: public holidays. 28 December: the Day of the Holy Innocents, Spain's April Fools' Day. 5–6 January: the Three Kings.
Christmas sweets and food
Turrón (nougat, soft from Jijona or hard from Alicante), marzipan from Toledo, polvorones and mantecados crumbly biscuits, and the roscón de Reyes ring cake. Christmas dinners often centre on seafood, lamb or roast meats.
The Three Kings
On the evening of 5 January every town holds a parade (cabalgata) where the Kings throw sweets to the crowd. Children open their presents on the morning of 6 January and families share a roscón with a small figure hidden inside.
New Year's Eve
At midnight Spaniards eat 12 grapes, one with each chime of the clock, traditionally broadcast from Madrid's Puerta del Sol. Parties and cotillones start after midnight and go on until morning.
Good to know
- Most shops and many museums close on 25 December, 1 January and 6 January, and close early on the 24th and 31st.
- Book restaurants for 24 and 31 December well ahead — many offer only a set menu those nights.
- Polvorones and mantecados are traditionally made with pork lard; look for versions labelled “sin manteca de cerdo”.
- The winter sales (rebajas) start on 7 January.
Questions
Is Christmas a good time to visit Spain?
Yes. The lights, markets and parades are beautiful and the south stays mild, but plan around the public holidays.
Is everything closed on Christmas Day?
Most shops and many museums are, but restaurants in tourist areas, the metro and many sights stay open.
When do Spanish children get their presents?
Traditionally on 6 January from the Three Kings, though many families now also give gifts on 25 December.
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