Photo by Paula Jaume courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
1. Away In a Manger: Start Your Own Pessebre
Many Catalan homes have a pessebre (nativity) that is lovingly curated and added to each year, and the traditional scene is also depicted in various locations around town. From the end of November until the beginning of January you can see Barcelona's Traditional Nativity Scene in the Ajuntament de Barcelona, while the Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes presents its own nativity scene from mid December through the beginning of February. If you fancy making one yourself, the Santa Llúcia Christmas Market is well-stocked with all the materials and decorations necessary, including the all-important caganer—a defecating figurine that adorns all Catalan nativity scenes.
Detail of a scene in the traditional pessebre at the Museu Frederic Marès. Photo by Helena Martorell courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
2. Wonderful Christmas Time: Handmade Goodies
Prepare for the festive feasts by sharpening your kitchen skills. On December 20th Cooking Area offers a Christmas Desserts course where you'll learn to make—and taste!—Christmas themed cakes, cupcakes, cake pops and and other holiday goodies.
Not sure what to make for Christmas dinner? The Centre Cívic Cotxeres Borrell offers a menú de nadal (Christmas menu) course December 4th & 11th as well as one on dolços de nadal Christmas sweets on December 3rd & 10th. The Centre Cívic Vil·la Urània has a course on pica-pica nadalenc (Christmas snacks) on December 11th and another on how to make the French galette des rois on the same day, and December 17th the Casal de Barri Can Carol has a class on traditional aperitius de nadal (Christmas appetizers). Barcelona's civic centers always have Christmas workshops scheduled throughout the month so check your neighborhood civic center for activities near you.
Every year a giant Christmas tree is placed in Plaça de Sant Jaume. Photo by Martí Petit courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
3. Deck The Halls: Decorate Your Tree
While the Christmas tree is still a relatively new tradition in Spain, each year it is becoming more popular. The Sagrada Família and Santa Llúcia Christmas markets are bursting with evergreen trees, and most garden centers outside the city also stock them. If you don’t fancy a floor full of pine needles, visit Plantasymas in Sarrià for an artificial tree as good as the real thing. In the city center, Christmas lights bring some cheer to the main thoroughfares, as well as building facades on Passeig de Gràcia and Portal de l’Àngel. You can catch them lit up in all their glory from November 22nd to January 6th, Sunday through Thursday at 17:30-1:00 and on December 24th, 25th, 31st, January 5th and Fridays and Saturdays 17:30-2:00.
You can buy a caga tió at most Christmas markets in Catalunya. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
4. Caga Tió: No Home is Complete Without One
Beating a decorated log until it defecates gifts may sound strange, but the gift-bearing Christmas log—el tió de nadal—is a common figure in Catalan folklore. In homes across Catalunya, the tió is given a little bit to "eat" every night in the days leading up to Christmas Eve. If well looked after, the log will deliver sweets, nuts and turrones (nougat) when beaten with a stick while singing a traditional song that begins with the imperative, "caga tió!" ("shit log!"). You can buy your tió at most Christmas markets, and for a larger-than-life experience children under 12 can hit the giant tió at the Santa Llucía Christmas market until it "delivers" presents and excrement excitement.
King Balthazar arrives in Barcelona, photo by Marc Lozano courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
5. Welcome the Three Kings
On January 5th at 18:00, the Three Kings arrive in Barcelona by boat. They dock at Port Vell and make their way across the city in a vivid parade of music, dancing, bright costumes and uniquely decorated floats. Enjoy the spectacle from the sidelines and be ready to catch the sweets that are thrown into the crowd. In preparation for the kings’ arrival, head to the Three Kings Toy Factory at the Fàbrica de Creació Fabra i Coats from just after Christmas to January 4th of 5th for a behind-the-scenes look at how the kings make all their toys. (2025 dates soon to be announced)
Christmas in Catalunya
Are you curious about Catalan holiday traditions? Head over to our page Christmas in Barcelona, and you'll learn about the famous Catalan "pooping log" and the caganer. If you're looking for something Christmassy to do, check out our list of events in and around the city at: What's on in Barcelona: Christmas.