Christmas in Andalusia
Andalusia, as welcoming as always, also wants to see you at Christmas.
There are times when Andalusia has a special light, a special feeling, where everything is expressed with a sense of seclusion and more authenticity.
Christmas in Andalusia is a time of year when the everyday is lived differently, in a vibrant and wonderful atmosphere that changes, for a few days, the way we do everything.
The cities are decorated with colourful lights, twinkling stars, the streets are filled with aromas, with music, with meetings and greetings, as everyone returns to Andalusia to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
Christmas in Andalusia is full of ancient traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation, making Christmas in our part of the world a very special moment.
Nights filled with Illusion
Christmas Eve
On 24 December, entire families gather to celebrate Christmas Eve dinner, one of the most important meals of the year.
It is usually an exquisite and abundant dinner, in which there is no shortage of typical Christmas products. Although they can vary greatly from one province to another, turkey, shellfish, nougat and toasting with cava are very common.
Being a family reunion, it is common for many restaurants to close.
The Misa del Gallo mass is one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Catholic people.
New Year’s Eve
The night of 31 December (New Year’s Eve) is not as family-oriented as Christmas Eve. The night begins with a family dinner, but then the old year sendoff is celebrated with a party with friends.
Some people prefer to say goodbye to the year in one of the many restaurants that offer dinner and party favours for this occasion.
The most common thing on this night is to eat the lucky grapes, one by one to the beat of the clock chimes.
The Night of the Three Kings (Epiphany)
The 6th of January, or Three Kings Day, is the day dedicated to children. It is the day that children receive the presents they have been waiting for throughout the holidays.
The day before, in the afternoon, you can see the Three Kings Parade, to greet the kings who walk through the streets.
Of special relevance is the Higuera de la Sierra (Huelva) Parade, the second oldest in Spain, classified as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia.
Compás de la Navidad
Christmas Carols
Christmas carols always accompany these festivities...,
They are rooted in the purest tradition of Spanish music. They are generally upbeat and usually relate things that happened in Bethlehem or to the family of Jesus.
Their accompaniment is simple (tambourine, zambomba, pestle and mortar or the scratching of a bottle of anisette liquor)
It is common to find groups of children and adults singing Christmas carols on the main streets of the city.
Flamenco Christmas – Las Zambombas
Zambombas are gatherings of friends, neighbours and relatives who meet every year during the Christmas season.
Christmas carols are sung and danced, while wine and anisette are drunk with Christmas sweets. The fundamental instrument is the zambomba, hence the name of the party.
Everyone participates in Zambombas, singing or playing an instrument.
YOU CAN'T MISS...
There are countless concerts and zambombas that are celebrated in Andalusia on the occasion of Christmas. Here we leave you our event search engine so that you can fully study the proposals we offer you:
