‘Tis the season to be jolly, as the seasonal song goes, and Barcelona gives you plenty of reasons for sharing the merriment. Christmas lighting and decorations create a magical atmosphere, and the city’s Christmas markets offer a glimpse of Catalonia’s many traditions.
Christmas shopping in Barcelona
Festive window displays beckon shoppers into their colo
rfully decorated consumer wonderlands. Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular shopping destinations, and Christmas is an especially busy season.
Shops are normally closed on Sundays and public holidays in Catalonia, but in December 2014 many will open on the 6th, 8th and 21st.
Ice-skating in Plaça Catalunya
Every year the pigeons and peanut stalls are shoed away to transform the center of Barcelona’s most iconic square into a large open-air ice skating rink. This is open from the last week of November until the 7th January.
Christmas Markets:
La Fira de Santa Llúcia
Barcelona’s main Christmas market is open from the 30th Nov-23rd Dec, giving everyone plenty of time to get their Christmas shopping sorted. It is located in front of the Cathedral, in Plaça de la Seu, and is open from 10:30am-8:30pm, and 9:30pm at weekends. Fira de Nadal
This Christmas market will be in front of the Sagrada Familia Basilica from the 8th-23rd Dec. It started 60 years ago and has now grown into a bustling market with over 200 stands that sell Christmas trees, garlands, crafts and traditional treats like turró.
Catalan Christmas traditions
A key character in the Catalan nativity scene is the caganer, a small figure defecating discretely behind the scene of baby Jesus. These statues symbolize fertilization and renewal.
Another Christmas tradition is the caga tió, or “pooing log”, a scooped-out small log with a smiling face, covered in a red blanket. As children hit it with a stick and sing a song the log pours out nougat and sweets which are concealed under its cloak.
