Winter in Barcelona

Winter is a great time to visit Barcelona!

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (La Immaculada)

Kick off your holiday season on the right foot with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. La Immaculada is commemorated on December 8th and is often regarded as the official start of the traditional Christmas celebrations in Barcelona. Although it’s not exactly a special occasion or a bank holiday, the celebration is an incredibly serious tradition for most members of the Roman Catholic community in Catalonia.

As you might infer from the name, La Immaculada is celebrated in honor of the miraculous conception of the Mary Immaculate. Note that no traditional activities or events occur during this occasion. However, most Catalonian families come together, gather in churches, dine in restaurants, and enjoy their company away from work and other worries of life. 

Catalonians also commonly spend time as family or friends shopping at the traditional Christmas markets. Besides, they also start decorating their homes in readiness for the Christmas festivities ahead.

Browse the Traditional Christmas Markets in Barcelona

Nothing beats the feeling of browsing the colorful decorations, gifts, and other holiday charms at Barcelona’s traditional Christmas fairs. It’s where the holiday magic starts and is a must-visit during the holiday season’s early days. The best time to visit these markets is from December 8th onwards, during or right after the Immaculate Conception celebration.

The best of the bunch include Fira de Santa Llucia. The traditional Christmas market is a two-minute walk from the famous Barcelona Cathedral, putting it smack dab in the heart of the cathedral square. Catalonia’s oldest Christmas market has been held yearly since the late 1700s.

The Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Familia is the other impressive Christmas fair. The action happens at the entrance to the Sagrada Familia.

Nativity Scene

The Nativity Scene, or pessebre, is fundamental to the décor of Catalan houses during the Christmas season, as it is in many other nations throughout the world. In addition, it is frequently set up as part of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In Catalonia, it is typical to find not just the classic nativity scene but a whole recreation of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth, replete with cork for the hills and moss for the grass.

The most important part of the nativity scene is the manager, which is left empty until Christmas Eve. That’s when you place baby Jesus into the manger. Surrounding the manager are the classic nativity scene pieces, including the 3 wise men, Joseph, Mary, Angels, and farm animals. In addition, there’s one more character you’re not likely to see anywhere else in the world: Caganer (more ahead on this figure).

A strange winter tradition: Caganer

Christmas decorations in Barcelona include all the clichés. We’re talking about mistletoe, colorful lights, Christmas trees, and the nativity scene; you name it! However, Catalonians take their pesebres (aka nativity scenes) to a whole new level with an additional character called the Caganer.

People in Barcelona are obsessed with this figurine. And their belenes won’t be complete without the “shitter.” The caganer portrays a villager removing his trousers and emptying his bowel right among the wise men, angels, farm animals, and other characters found in the traditional nativity scene.

He is so well-known and plays such an important role in Christmas traditions that you can see him all over the place throughout the month of December. You’ll find these beauties in City Hall, in front of churches, and at traditional Christmas markets.

They can be modeled after prominent people, so expect to see famous footballers like Messi.

Enjoy Winter Festivities at Sagrada Familia

The many statues and sculptures found at the façade and the entrance to the Sagrada Familia are usually lit up during Christmas. The light show is delightful, accompanied by a musical narration that will be the highlight of your holiday season. The show at Sagrada Familia usually lasts about 15 min and is repeated several times throughout the evening.

It’s free to enjoy the show. However, the capacity of the Sagrada Familia is quite limited, so you might have to enjoy the show from the street. On top of that, there’s a Midnight Mass held on Christmas Eve at Sagrada Familia, helping you celebrate the birth of Jesus in style. The ceremony starts at seven in the evening, and mass is free to attend.

Enjoy Christmas Dinner with Loved Ones

Christmas Eve is an important day for the entire family in Catalonia and throughout Spain. The major Christmas feast is eaten on December 24th, though the food offered in Catalonia differs from the rest of the country. The traditional Catalan appetizer is called escudella de galets. It is a soup with big, snail-shaped pasta shells created from the liquid generated when the meat course is boiled.

The carn d’olla, or pot meat, is taken from the broth and served separately as the main dish. Typically, this will contain a range of meats, a giant meatball large enough for the entire family to share, and a selection of traditional winter veggies. It is a substantial, satisfying stew served at Catalan dinner tables since the 1400s. This dinner is typically accompanied by cured meats, red wine, and cava. In addition, the family will utilize the occasion to exchange token presents, generally gifting the youngsters modestly-priced instruments that they will use to entertain their relatives with Christmas carols.

These are just but a few Christmas traditions that make the holiday season so much more enjoyable in Barcelona. Others include Poo Log, Feast of St. Stephen, Three Kings’ Day, and Cap d’Any.