Throughout Spain the Christmas season is in full swing by the beginning of December – Xmas decorations, party clothes, gifts and goodies fill the stores, and town centres are ablaze with festive lights. Christmas markets, fêtes and fairs, street entertainment, concerts and shows, and spectacular nativity scenes. Find out what’s happening at Christmas and New Year, Costa Blanca style, you definitely won’t get bored!
Christmas and New Year, Costa Blanca in Spain
December 6th and 8th in Spain
December kicks-off with a double bank holiday – the 6th of December is Spanish Constitution Day and 8th December commemorates the ‘Immaculate Conception’. This is a good date for going up to Barcelona, Seville or Madrid in winter if you want to see the Xmas lights and markets. They may not be so grand but the Costa Blanca has its own share of authentic Christmas fairs!
December 8 to 11 – Jijona Christmas Fair
Jijona Christmas Fair usually takes place for a week, coinciding with December bank holiday (6th and 8th december). This Costa Blanca mountain village is famous for its turròn and marzipan – the majority of Spain’s almond and honey nougats, traditionally eaten at Christmastime, is made locally. Find local produce, decorations and gifts, plus street entertainment and activities. For more info contact Jijona Tourism Board.
December 22 – El Gordo Lottery
‘El Gordo‘ is Spain’s most famous lottery, dating back to 1812. First thing in the morning everyone tunes into the radio listening to the children from San Idelfonso School calling out the winning numbers, eagerly waiting to hear if their lucky lottery ticket has won them millions. ‘El Gordo’ (the big one) has been generous to the Costa Blanca on numerous occasions! And if you don’t win this ‘Sorteo de Navidad’ Christams lottery, you can always try your luck your again in the New Year with the ‘Loteria de el Niño’ on January 6th!
December 24 – Christmas Eve
Spain’s Christmas Eve, ‘Noche Buena’ literally translates to Good Night, and marks the birth of Christ. Until recent years, Catholic Spaniards traditionally celebrated midnight Mass ‘La Misa del Gallo’ but the custom is dying out somewhat nowadays. It’s not a bank holiday, but businesses and stores usually close early.
Christmas Eve is an extra special occasion in Spain, when the family typically gathers together for a sumptuous evening meal at home, when sons and daughters living away return for the celebrations which includes the kiddies and grandparents too! Influenced by global trends, Santa Claus may pay a quick visit to the Costa Blanca but don’t expect your main pressies until the 6th of January, Three Kings’ Day!
A typical feast includes a spread of various appetizers – prawns, shellfish, sliced meats and cheeses, croquettes, potato salad, Spanish omelette, ’empanadillas’ (savoury rollovers), etc. – and for the main course baked fish, or roast lamb or suckling pig are popular.
For dessert you could expect a ‘brazo de gitano’ an elaborate chocolate cream roll or a slice of whisky ice-cream cake! At the end of the meal plates of Xmas pastries and sweets are handed round, many of which are made locally – traditional almond turrón and the latest delicious varieties (the best come from Jijona), chocolate truffles, ‘polvorones’ (a sweet powdered almond mixture) and ‘rollos’, biscuit rings flavoured with orange, wine, or cinnamon.
Choose an Alicante wine to accompany the banquet and a Cava to toast everyone’s health, and a sweet liqueur to finish – anis, herb, mistela… Yes, Christmas Eve on the Costa Blanca is definitely an evening to forget your diet and to sleep overnight!
December 25 – Christmas Day
Christmas Day in Spain is quite different from one in the UK as there is no present giving. ‘El Día de Navidad’ is a national bank holiday, a laidback day to spend with the family where the traditional midday meal is fairly simple and healthy – a homemade chicken broth with meatball for example.
The weather on the Costa Blanca is usually mild at Christmas so it’s a good opportunity to go out for a leisurely stroll and afternoon coffee. If you don’t fancy cooking and want a stress-free Xmas, book a table at a restaurant or hotel and enjoy a festive menu.
December 26 – Boxing Day
Boxing Day as such doesn’t exist, the 26th of December isn’t a bank holiday in Spain and businesses will be open as usual. However, on the Costa Blanca places with a British clientele may feature special shows, meals or events to keep us happy! It’s also the day that children write a letter to the ‘3 Kings’, a wish list of coveted toys to be delivered by the ‘three Wise Men’ at Epiphany.
December 28 – Day of the Innocents
‘Día de los Santos Inocentes’ is Spain’s equivalent to April Fool’s Day, so expect light-hearted pranks from family, colleagues, friends and the media! The tradition hails from the Old Testament, and marks the day of the Massacre of the Innocents.
The townsfolk of Ibi celebrate this day with the remarkable Els Enfarinats fiesta, when the Mayor is ‘locked-up’ for the day while a flour battle takes place through the streets of the small inland Costa Blanca town.
Ibi is well worth a visit for their traditional Winter Fiestas in December, especially on the 28th to see ‘Els Enfarinats’ taking over the town – a lively battle around the main plaza with a ‘flour fight’ and firecrackers followed by ‘Els Tapats’ in fancy dress, street musicians and dancing. For more info contact Ibi Tourism Board.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve superstitions in Spain
Apart from eating 12 lucky grapes at midnight (the plate should be on your left leg) there are many other superstitions to start the New Year on the right foot in Spain. New Year superstitions include wearing red lingerie to prevent jealousy, putting coins in your shoes for prosperity, or a dice in a glass of Champagne, and don’t forget to put a case by the front door if you fancy a trip to a faraway place!
New Year’s Eve on the Costa Blanca
‘Noche Vieja’ is New Year’s Eve and party time…and the Spanish certainly know how to celebrate in style! The 31st of December is not a bank holiday, but businesses and stores may close early.
The choice of venues for a spectacular evening out is almost overwhelming, there’s something for everyone and to suit all budgets here on the Costa Blanca. You can wine and dine to your heart’s content, dance the night away or watch a show, or join in some amazing hotel entertainment.
See your local town or village agenda, as most places have a get together in the main square. Bigger towns and cities throughout Alicante Province feature live music entertainment and popular street parties which go on all night, where everyone is welcome.
At midnight expect complementary party bags, a packet of 12 grapes to bring luck (you’re meant to swallow one with every chime of midnight so go for pip-free if you bring your own!) and Cava to toast in the New Year.
If you’ve got the stamina, enjoy the party all night long and finish off at first light with ‘churros’ and hot chocolate for breakfast!
January 1 – New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day, January 1st ‘Año Nuevo’ is pretty much the same on the Costa Blanca as back home in the UK, but with sunshine if we’re fortunate! A bank holiday to recover from the night before, for a brisk walk in the country, a stroll along the promenade or even sunbathing on the beach in a secluded spot weather permitting. You can of course do it the popular Spanish way, and go out for a late tapas lunch!
January 5 – Eve of the Three Kings’ Day
January 5th is the eve of ‘3 Kings’ Day’. This is the morning of Spain’s second Xmas lottery ‘Lotería del Niño’, so called because later today an important event takes place, it’s the most magical night of the year, when the Three Royal Magi followed the star to baby Jesus.
Spain celebrates the occasion with colourful street parades and children watch in awe as the three Kings arrive – Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar passing by in their ornate carriages, or riding camels, and most likely accompanied by Santa too! The procession in Alcoy dates back to 1855 being the oldest, and one of the most spectacular of its kind in Spain! For more info contact Alcoy Tourism Board.
Kids leave their new shoes or Xmas stockings underneath the windows before they go to bed, and drinks and titbits are left out for the Kings and camels, who bring presents during the night for all good children, and a lump of black coal ‘carbon’ candy for the naughty ones!
January 6 – Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day
On Three Kings’ Day ‘Dia de los Reyes Magos’ children, and adults across Spain, excitedly wake up on this bank holiday morning to loads of presents. It’s a day to spend with the family.
Finish off the festive season on the Costa Blanca with afternoon tea and a slice of traditional ‘Roscón’, a large sweet bun ring sprinkled with sugar and candied angelica. Baked inside there will be a hard haricot bean – the person who finds this foots the bill – and a lucky ceramic King for the fortunate one. The plain bread cakes are often cream filled nowadays, and there are even bakeries which conceal prize tickets inside the dough as a publicity gimmick.
Costa Blanca December Agenda
December’s fun-packed agenda on the Costa Blanca features Christmas fairs, charity fêtes, Saint Silvestre road races, ice-skating, seasonal concerts and theatre, and carol singing. Theme Parks are another favourite – look out for special events organised at this time of year.
Although most homes in Spain now have an Xmas tree as well, it’s tradition to put up a ‘Belén’ Bethlehem nativity scene over the Christmas period. This can range from an elaborate display that takes up the entire front room (dozens of figures, animals, outbuildings, running streams, an oasis, lights…) or just the baby in a manger, Maria and Joseph, a donkey and sheep, the 3 Magi on their camels with the guiding star! Don’t miss the magnificent nativity scenes that are set up in many towns and villages on the Costa Blanca.
Christmas Fairs on the Costa Blanca
A selection of the many Christmas Fairs being held across the Costa Blanca.
Calpe Xmas Fair
Calpe Xmas fair in the old town makes a great day out for the children with workshops, an animal farm and Santa Claus’s house, as well as street music, folk dancing and carol singing. For more info contact Calpe Tourism Board.
Benidorm Christmas and New Year Festivities
Benidorm is full of Christmas spirit in more ways than one! The town centre is lit up with festive lights, the town hall square the focal point of attraction with huge marquees and an ice skating rink. Kiddies’ rides, candy floss and popcorn stalls as well as the traditional Xmas market. The Benidorm New Year’s Eve outdoor party is one of the best on the Costa Blanca! For more info contact Benidorm Tourism Board.
Biar Christmas Fair
Biar looks like fairytale village from Medieval times, castle included! An amazing ambience for the Xmas fair with carol singing, live music and shows, stalls with local produce, and kiddies workshops. The free guided night tours are not to be missed! For more info contact Biar Tourism Board.
Alicante Christmas and New Year Events
Alicante Christmas craft fair is on from mid December 17th until January 6th. Browse the stalls, pick up some original gifts, and try the typical seasonal sweets, turrón and chocolates. Take your kids or grandchildren to meet Santa at his holiday home in the Ereta Park where they can join in a host of fun activities with the elves. An ice rink in the Town Hall Square, the popular New Year’s Eve street party and the annual Xmas funfair are other not-to-miss attractions. For more full information on Christmas and New Year activities contact Alicante Tourism Board.
Torrevieja Nativity Scene
Torrevieja set up an impressive Nativity Scene in the Plaza de la Constitución every December, opposite the Town Hall – the huge Belén has more than 900 figures (many in movement) and incorporates local landmarks such as the Moorish watchtower, Calvario windmill and the Eras de Sal pier. A massive Xmas tree and festive lighting, complete the ambience. For more info contact Torrevieja Tourism Board.
More Traditional Festivities in Spain
Alicante Travel Guide to Costa Blanca in Spain
The Costa Blanca is a famous stretch of coast in southeastern Spain, where a warm Mediterranean Sea bathes an infinite diversity of white sand beaches and pebble bays encircled by distant mountain peaks. Follow me on a journey down the coastline, an insider’s Alicante travel guide to the Costa Blanca.
Wine Harvesting Festival in Jumilla
August Wine Harvesting Festival in Jumilla (Murcia).
The Traditional Wine Fair, National Folklore Festival, and Moors & Christians Festivities take place in the historical city of Jumilla – grape treading, wine making and tastings, colourful parades and processions, shows and performances. Don’t miss this amazing festival!
O GROVE – Seafood Festival in Galicia
O Grove seafood festival in Galicia – Festa Do Marisco.
Seafood lover’s read on as I’m about to reveal what is possibly one of Spain’s best kept secrets.
Every October since 1963, this busy fishing village, located in the heart of the Galician Rias Baixas, has celebrated the now traditional Festa do Marisco. Stands offering an amazing array of locally and freshly caught seawater delicacies, prepared before your eyes by the villagers…
‘Fira de Tots Sants’ Medieval Fair in Cocentaina (Alicante) takes place around the 1st of November each year. The oldest fête in Spain, and certainly the biggest I have ever been to, takes place in Cocentaina, a historic market town not far from where we live on the Costa Blanca!
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