There you are: dealing with Christmas homesickness and missing peanut butter but also wanting to discover how traditional Christmas food in Spain really tastes. Also how family and friends reunions on Christmas feels like in Spain (not this year though). Specially that curious ritual about eating wrapes during the last seconds of the year to welcome the new year.
We got you covered partially: we wrote this Christmas express expat guide for you to take into account some key dates, because Christmas party in Spain goes beyond December 25. We also included some of the traditional Christmas food in Spain to celebrate this festivity the Spanish way (and also the Catalan if you are in Barcelona).
Christmas calendar in Spain
December 24: Nochebuena
We start our engines on this day: Nochebuena. The first Spanish Christmas dinner of the Holiday season in Spain. This dinner is not that popular in Catalonia though.
December 25 Christmas Day
The big day! The main Spanish Christmas meal is served on this day (nothing else to add).
December 26 (only in Catalonia): Sant Esteve
This festivity is basically celebrated in Catalonia with a delicious lunch: CANELONS (mouth-watering).
December 31: New Years Eve
We reunite with family or friends for dinner to welcome the new year.
January 5: The Three Magic Kings are on their way
After watching them on the city’s parade, the children must go to sleep early so that the Three Magic Kings can stop by their places and bring them the toys they wrote on the letter.
January 6: The Three Magic kings brought some presents
A beautiful day specially for the kids.
Traditional Christmas food in Spain
Seafood, “zarzuela de pescado”
Seafood is very present during the Holidays in many forms: shrimps, prawns, mussels, clams… They are usually grilled and dressed with some garlic and parsley, or cooked with a delicious sauce to make it a “zarzuela de pescado”.
Cochinillo, grilled piglet
Definitely not suitable for vegetarian or vegan people. Grilled piglet is traditionally cooked for a Spanish Christmas dinner (Nochebuena) or lunch (on Christmas Day). It is one of the most typical dishes in the region of Castille, specially in Segovia.
Pavo asado, roast turkey
This is also not suitable for vegetarian or vegan people. A Spanish Christmas meal with which you are probably already familiar. It is like celebrating Thanksgiving but on Christmas day ;-)
Traditional Christmas food in Catalonia
Escudella i carn d’olla
The traditional Catalan soup with meatballs served on Christmas Day: escudella i carn d’olla.
Canelons
Canelons are the traditional meal in Catalonia on December 26, Sant Esteve. Rolls filled up with meat or vegetables. We said this before but felt the need to say it one more time: Canelons are THE BEST. It is our favourite food.
Fricandó
We talked about this delicious Catalan dish before: Catalan food you need to discover. Beef cooked with mushrooms and a delicious typical Catalan sauce.
Desserts: Traditional Spanish Christmas desserts
Turrón, nougat
Among traditional Christmas food in Spain we find obviously turron, nougat. Soft, hard, with almonds, with chocolate, with pistachios… Textures and flavours are countless! One of our favourites is a classic: Turrón de Jijona.
Polvorones and mantecados
Along with nougat, polvorones and mantecados can’t be missed on a Christmas table, they are also one of the most traditional Spanish Christmas desserts. We have this dumb thing to do: fill our mouths with polvorones and try to say Pamplona (this is so dumb we know, but had to point it out in case you find yourself involved in that situation ;-)).
Roscón de Reyes
The traditional cake we eat after having lunch. Roscón de Reyes It is not an ordinary cake, it comes along with a famous ritual: it contains a bean and a little figure of a king. So the one who takes the piece of cake containing the figure is automatically crowned as king (with a paper crown included) and the one who gets the piece with the bean will must pay for the cake.
Neules
A typical Catalan sweet which is long, rolled and crunchy. Well, maybe not the best description so here is a picture:
Drinks: Cava, champagne and wine
“Cheers to a new year full of new adventures (hopefully)!” These are wishes we say out loud while we stand up and raise a glass of cava (or champagne) to make a toast. It is one of the most typical drinks during Christmas in Catalonia. Also wine (red and white) is the most popular company to enjoy the delicious traditional Christmas food in Spain.