The Spanish Christmas traditions I’m still adapting to 🎅🏼
Christmas in Spain is long, wonderful, and… well, unique.
At least, that’s how it still feels to me after a decade here.
It starts with a bewildering lottery system that I still can’t explain (despite asking Yoly every year).
It involves the Three Wise Men and Santa Claus jostling for pole position and somehow stretches well into January.
This year, it’s gotten even more interesting as we navigate the intersection of Kiwi-Spanish Christmas traditions with our three-year-old daughter LucĂa.
Let me walk you through how it all works…
1. December 22 - The Christmas Lottery
The festivities kick off with “El Gordo” (The Fat One) - the world’s largest lottery, with billions of euros up for grabs.
This year's prize pool was €2.71 billion.
After ten years in Spain, I still ask Yoly to explain how it works.
Honestly, I’ve given up trying to understand the whole thing fully.
Even most Spaniards struggle to explain the mechanics.
I know this: it began in 1812 in Cádiz during Spain’s War of Independence. While Napoleon’s forces occupied much of the country, the Spanish government needed money - but didn’t want to tax their already struggling citizens.
Their solution? A lottery.
The first draw took place in Cádiz, one of the few cities that remained free from French control.
The most unique aspect? People buy tickets with friends and family to share the winnings.
The lottery’s slogan is “the greatest prize is sharing.”
And they mean it - when a number hits, entire villages often congregate at the local bar to pop open cava together.
Because, yep, everyone won.
It doesn’t always work out. In 2011, an entire village won €950 million… except for one man who didn’t buy a ticket.
This is why Yoly insists we buy our tickets from our local shop—she doesn’t want our neighbors to become millionaires without us.
2. December 24 - Nochebuena
Christmas Eve is our main Christmas feast day.
While many countries celebrate on the 25th, Spanish families gather for a huge dinner on Christmas Eve.
Think roasted meats, gambas (prawns), jamĂłn, cheese, and chorizo.
There’s also the tradition of the King’s speech - though honestly, everyone talks right through it.
The TV stays on in the corner, the volume up high, while families talk loudly at each other (I mean, that's every family gathering in Spain, though).
3. December 25 - Christmas Day & The Great Gift Dilemma
Coming from New Zealand, Christmas morning on the 25th was always magical - waking up to presents under the tree from Father Christmas (yep, he ain’t Santa for me).
But here in Spain, traditionally, children receive their gifts on January 6th from the Three Kings - Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, the same wise men who, according to tradition, followed the Star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus.
But nowadays, Santa Claus is elbowing his way in.
Due to globalization, more Spanish families are embracing the December 25th tradition, and kids now get toys on the 25th and the 6th (generally, parents divide them between the two days rather than give twice as many gifts!)
This year is particularly interesting as we navigate this cultural intersection with our three-year-old daughter LucĂa.
In short, we're trying to balance our family's two traditions.
I want to recreate those Christmas morning memories from my childhood in New Zealand, while we also want to honor the Three Kings tradition that shaped Yoly’s childhood.
Plus, as Yoly points out (quite logically), getting gifts on the 25th makes more sense - kids have their entire holiday break to enjoy their new toys (rather than the day before you go back to school).
To manage this cultural collision, Yoly has devised a complex matrix of gift-giving and celebrations that interweaves both traditions. Let's see how it goes!
Another important tradition is the big Christmas Day lunch. Yep, by this stage, you're feeling pretty stuffed.
4. December 31 - New Year’s Eve
New Year’s in Spain is a marathon, not a sprint.
You start with another family dinner, and then at midnight, there’s the famous tradition of the twelve grapes.
Just before the clock in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol strikes midnight, you eat one grape per chime for good luck.
And here’s something that took me years to adjust to: the celebration doesn’t peak at midnight.
That’s just the beginning. The real party goes on until the wee hours.
For my first Spanish New Year, I had to take an afternoon siesta just to keep up.
5. January 6 - Three Kings Day
On the night of January 5th, children across Spain leave their shoes out by the Christmas tree or balcony.
Of course, they also leave food and (in our house) beer for the Three Kings and water for the camels.
In the morning, they find their presents and gather for the final Christmas tradition: the eating of the roscĂłn de Reyes.
It’s a ring-shaped pastry that looks a bit like someone bedazzled a giant donut with candied fruit. Inside are two surprises: a small figurine and a dried bean (if you wind up getting the bean, you’re paying for the roscón).
I’ve spent years trying to master the art of eating this thing gracefully.
The cream filling tends to escape from all sides, and biting into the figurine isn’t great for dental work.
But somehow, it’s become one of my favorite traditions.
Yoly also likes to make thick, Spanish-style hot chocolate, which we sip while we eat our roscĂłn.
And with that final sugar rush, Spanish Christmas finally draws to a close.
By this point, you’re exhausted from weeks of celebration.
You’re stuffed full of polvorones (crumbly almond cookies that have “dust” in their name and turn to dust in your mouth) and staring down what Spaniards call “la cuesta de enero” - literally “January’s uphill climb” as you try to readjust to normal life.
But the marathon feasts, the bewildering lottery system, and the logistical chaos of managing two gift-giving traditions make this such a rich, multifaceted tradition, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Anyway...
However you're celebrating this season, I hope it's great, full of friends and family. 🎉
And just remember to keep a drink handy when eating those polvorones.
*This is an excerpt from my weekly newsletter about life in Spain and moving to Spain. If you'd like to get on the list, you can subscribe at www.spainrevealed.com/subscribe
Spain Revealed
The Spanish Christmas traditions I’m still adapting to 🎅🏼
Christmas in Spain is long, wonderful, and… well, unique.
At least, that’s how it still feels to me after a decade here.
It starts with a bewildering lottery system that I still can’t explain (despite asking Yoly every year).
It involves the Three Wise Men and Santa Claus jostling for pole position and somehow stretches well into January.
This year, it’s gotten even more interesting as we navigate the intersection of Kiwi-Spanish Christmas traditions with our three-year-old daughter LucĂa.
Let me walk you through how it all works…
1. December 22 - The Christmas Lottery
The festivities kick off with “El Gordo” (The Fat One) - the world’s largest lottery, with billions of euros up for grabs.
This year's prize pool was €2.71 billion.
After ten years in Spain, I still ask Yoly to explain how it works.
There are complex concepts like series (series), decimals (décimos), and shares (participaciones). And you share numbers with other people.
Honestly, I’ve given up trying to understand the whole thing fully.
Even most Spaniards struggle to explain the mechanics.
I know this: it began in 1812 in Cádiz during Spain’s War of Independence. While Napoleon’s forces occupied much of the country, the Spanish government needed money - but didn’t want to tax their already struggling citizens.
Their solution? A lottery.
The first draw took place in Cádiz, one of the few cities that remained free from French control.
The most unique aspect? People buy tickets with friends and family to share the winnings.
The lottery’s slogan is “the greatest prize is sharing.”
And they mean it - when a number hits, entire villages often congregate at the local bar to pop open cava together.
Because, yep, everyone won.
It doesn’t always work out. In 2011, an entire village won €950 million… except for one man who didn’t buy a ticket.
This is why Yoly insists we buy our tickets from our local shop—she doesn’t want our neighbors to become millionaires without us.
2. December 24 - Nochebuena
Christmas Eve is our main Christmas feast day.
While many countries celebrate on the 25th, Spanish families gather for a huge dinner on Christmas Eve.
Think roasted meats, gambas (prawns), jamĂłn, cheese, and chorizo.
There’s also the tradition of the King’s speech - though honestly, everyone talks right through it.
The TV stays on in the corner, the volume up high, while families talk loudly at each other (I mean, that's every family gathering in Spain, though).
3. December 25 - Christmas Day & The Great Gift Dilemma
Coming from New Zealand, Christmas morning on the 25th was always magical - waking up to presents under the tree from Father Christmas (yep, he ain’t Santa for me).
But here in Spain, traditionally, children receive their gifts on January 6th from the Three Kings - Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, the same wise men who, according to tradition, followed the Star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus.
But nowadays, Santa Claus is elbowing his way in.
Due to globalization, more Spanish families are embracing the December 25th tradition, and kids now get toys on the 25th and the 6th (generally, parents divide them between the two days rather than give twice as many gifts!)
This year is particularly interesting as we navigate this cultural intersection with our three-year-old daughter LucĂa.
In short, we're trying to balance our family's two traditions.
I want to recreate those Christmas morning memories from my childhood in New Zealand, while we also want to honor the Three Kings tradition that shaped Yoly’s childhood.
Plus, as Yoly points out (quite logically), getting gifts on the 25th makes more sense - kids have their entire holiday break to enjoy their new toys (rather than the day before you go back to school).
To manage this cultural collision, Yoly has devised a complex matrix of gift-giving and celebrations that interweaves both traditions. Let's see how it goes!
Another important tradition is the big Christmas Day lunch. Yep, by this stage, you're feeling pretty stuffed.
4. December 31 - New Year’s Eve
New Year’s in Spain is a marathon, not a sprint.
You start with another family dinner, and then at midnight, there’s the famous tradition of the twelve grapes.
Just before the clock in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol strikes midnight, you eat one grape per chime for good luck.
And here’s something that took me years to adjust to: the celebration doesn’t peak at midnight.
That’s just the beginning. The real party goes on until the wee hours.
For my first Spanish New Year, I had to take an afternoon siesta just to keep up.
5. January 6 - Three Kings Day
On the night of January 5th, children across Spain leave their shoes out by the Christmas tree or balcony.
Of course, they also leave food and (in our house) beer for the Three Kings and water for the camels.
In the morning, they find their presents and gather for the final Christmas tradition: the eating of the roscĂłn de Reyes.
It’s a ring-shaped pastry that looks a bit like someone bedazzled a giant donut with candied fruit.
Inside are two surprises: a small figurine and a dried bean (if you wind up getting the bean, you’re paying for the roscón).
I’ve spent years trying to master the art of eating this thing gracefully.
The cream filling tends to escape from all sides, and biting into the figurine isn’t great for dental work.
But somehow, it’s become one of my favorite traditions.
Yoly also likes to make thick, Spanish-style hot chocolate, which we sip while we eat our roscĂłn.
#breakfastofchampions
And with that final sugar rush, Spanish Christmas finally draws to a close.
By this point, you’re exhausted from weeks of celebration.
You’re stuffed full of polvorones (crumbly almond cookies that have “dust” in their name and turn to dust in your mouth) and staring down what Spaniards call “la cuesta de enero” - literally “January’s uphill climb” as you try to readjust to normal life.
But the marathon feasts, the bewildering lottery system, and the logistical chaos of managing two gift-giving traditions make this such a rich, multifaceted tradition, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Anyway...
However you're celebrating this season, I hope it's great, full of friends and family. 🎉
And just remember to keep a drink handy when eating those polvorones.
*This is an excerpt from my weekly newsletter about life in Spain and moving to Spain. If you'd like to get on the list, you can subscribe at www.spainrevealed.com/subscribe
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