When is Christmas in Spain?

You might expect a single date, but in Spain Christmas arrives as a season rather than a single evening. Families, parades and public rituals stretch the festivities from early December into January, so a quick answer needs more than one line.

Quick answer

• Official national Christmas day is 25 December (Navidad).
• For many Spaniards the cultural and family peak is 6 January (Epiphany, Día de los Reyes), when children traditionally receive gifts.
• The typical festive window commonly experienced runs from 8 December to 6 January.

Important dates overview

• 8 December (Immaculada), often treated as the formal start of the season in many places.
• 22 December, El Gordo national lottery draw that signals the commercial build up.
• 24 December, Nochebuena, a major family evening with late supper and midnight Mass.
• 25 December, Navidad, the official public holiday.
• 28 December, Santos Inocentes, a day of practical jokes similar to April Fools.
• 31 December and 1 January, New Year celebrations with the tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight.
• 5–6 January, Cabalgata parades and Día de los Reyes, the traditional gift day for children and the season’s conclusion.

If you travel or join family gatherings, expect local schedules to follow that rhythm and plan outfits accordingly; a kids christmas sweater is a natural gift idea for the Cabalgata and for small celebrations with relatives. For festive nights out or office parties you might opt for a funny christmas sweater or an ugly christmas sweater to join the playful spirit that appears at work lunches and neighborhood events. Links and practical details about closures and parade dates will follow in the next section, where the calendar and official holiday status are listed more precisely, plus tips on how to time visits to markets and public events.

Calendar and public holidays

Spain recognises several fixed dates that shape the festive calendar and affect opening hours for shops, banks and public services. The most important national public holidays are easy to list and remember.

• 25 December (Navidad) is a national public holiday and the official Christmas day.
• 1 January (Año Nuevo) is a national public holiday for New Year’s Day.
• 6 January (Epiphany, Día de los Reyes) is a national public holiday and a key cultural date.
• 24 December (Nochebuena) is a widely observed evening for family gatherings and midnight Mass but it is not a national public holiday.
• 26 December (San Esteban) is a public holiday in some regions such as Catalonia and the Balearic Islands but not nationwide.

Start and end of the season

Many people treat the season as starting in early December and finishing with Epiphany. The Immaculate Conception on 8 December marks the traditional opening of decorations and market activity in many towns. The period often feels complete once the parades and gift day on 5 and 6 January have passed, which is why some locals refer to 6 January as the real conclusion of the festive stretch.

Key events that set the rhythm

Certain events have an outsized effect on the pace of celebrations and public life.

• 22 December sees the national lottery draw known as El Gordo which signals that the festive season is in full swing and receives massive media attention.
• 24 December remains a major evening for families with late supper and Misa del Gallo at many churches, even though gift giving often comes later.
• 28 December is Santos Inocentes, a day for jokes and pranks similar to April Fools in other countries.
• 31 December includes the grape-eating tradition at midnight and leads straight into public New Year festivities on 1 January.
• 5 January features the Cabalgata de los Reyes parades in many cities and towns and 6 January is the day when children traditionally receive gifts from the Three Kings.

Practical implications for visitors and residents

Knowing which dates are public holidays helps with planning travel, appointments and shopping.

• Expect closures on national public holidays including 25 December, 1 January and 6 January, and plan essential errands around these dates.
• Regional holidays such as 26 December in some areas can mean additional closures; check local calendars if you will be travelling between regions.
• Peak public events and parades concentrate around 22 December for the lottery and 5 to 6 January for the Cabalgata and gift day, so book early for any popular tickets or festive dinners.
• Markets, nativity displays and evening concerts often run across the whole 8 December to 6 January window, so a flexible schedule will let you catch both daytime markets and evening processions.

What to pack and how to dress for festive outings

Clothing choices matter for family gatherings, market visits and parade evenings. For informal family events a playful jumper or themed loungewear is common, while parades and public nights call for layers and comfortable shoes. If you want festive outfit ideas see the christmas sweater selection and consider matching options for children with a kids christmas sweater link or practical outer layers from a mens christmas sweater collection when packing for family trips.

Useful links and quick checklist

Plan around the national public holidays and the main cultural dates to get the most out of the season. Quick checklist for a trip that overlaps the festive period

• Confirm opening hours for banks and municipal services before booking appointments.
• Reserve seats for any special dinners or popular concerts well in advance.
• Check local parade schedules if you want to attend a Cabalgata on 5 January.

With these calendar details and a small wardrobe plan you can time visits to markets, catch the big draws and enjoy both the official holiday on 25 December and the cultural peak around 6 January.

Regional variations and local colour

Spain’s festive season is a patchwork of local dates and deep-rooted tradition, so the way people celebrate can feel very different from town to town. In Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, 26 December (San Esteban) can be an extra holiday, while other regions keep their own patron saint days and processions. In big cities like Madrid and Barcelona, the streets buzz with markets, lights and the sound of street musicians. In smaller villages the atmosphere is quieter, with wood smoke, church bells and family tables laden with regional sweets.

The contrast is part of the charm: sensory details change with the place. You will smell pine and roasted nuts in public squares, hear the murmur of choirs at midnight Mass, and feel the warm weight of knitwear as you step from a chilly market into a cosy café. A comfortable christmas sweater works well in both settings, offering that little extra warmth and a playful nod to the season.

Foods, ceremonies and public life

Food is a thread that runs through the whole period. On 25 December families often gather for a large lunch featuring regional specialties and desserts such as turrón and polvorones. New Year’s Eve brings the grape tradition at midnight, where crowds count each stroke of the clock while popping a grape into their mouth. Around 6 January bakeries sell roscón de reyes, a festive cake that marks the Epiphany celebrations.

Religious observances remain visible. Many attend the Misa del Gallo on 24 December, and churches fill again for services around Epiphany. Public events like nativity scenes, known as belenes, are displayed in squares and municipal buildings, and the televised El Gordo lottery on 22 December sets a nationwide mood of anticipation. The Cabalgata parades on 5 January turn the streets into a lively pageant, with children waiting for sweets and the promise of gifts on 6 January.

Timeline details to help you plan

The season has a recognisable rhythm that travellers soon learn to follow. Decorations and markets often start around 8 December, picked up by the excitement of El Gordo on 22 December, which many locals treat as the signal that the festive stretch is officially underway. Nochebuena on 24 December is an intimate evening for families. Navidad on 25 December is the national holiday that often involves a long midday meal. Then come the New Year festivities and finally the pageantry and gift day on 5 and 6 January.

If you want to blend in, time your visits to markets in the afternoons and reserve special dinners early, as popular venues fill quickly. For relaxed evenings at home after a day of parades and lights, matching christmas pajamas make for a cosy family moment, and they are perfect for lingering over coffee and roscón while the last processions wend their way through town.

Frequently asked questions

When is Christmas in Spain?

Officially, Christmas day is 25 December, but the cultural season commonly runs from 8 December to 6 January, with many Spaniards treating 6 January as the cultural high point.

Is 25 December a public holiday in Spain?

Yes. 25 December is a national public holiday across Spain.

Why do many Spaniards celebrate on 6 January?

6 January, Día de los Reyes, commemorates the visit of the Magi and is traditionally when children receive gifts; the Cabalgata parades on 5 January build to that moment.

When does the Christmas season start in Spain?

Many mark the start at 8 December, Immaculate Conception, while public excitement often spikes after the El Gordo lottery draw on 22 December.

Is 24 December the main gift day in Spain?

No. Nochebuena on 24 December is a significant family evening with dinner and midnight Mass, but many families exchange gifts on 6 January.

Are there regional differences in holiday dates?

Yes. Some regions observe additional public holidays such as 26 December in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, and local customs vary widely.

What is El Gordo and when is it held?

El Gordo is the national Christmas lottery held on 22 December; it brings nationwide attention and often signals the start of full-on festive activity.

For a quick pick-me-up between markets and parades, consider adding a festive layer from the christmas sweater collection or slipping into comfortable christmas pajamas for a quiet, fragrant evening at home.