Hit up the Christmas market at the Sagrada Familia if you want to enjoy the ambiance of aromatic Christmas trees, Nativity scene figurines, authentic local gifts, and a pleasing view of the Sagrada Familia. I make sure to visit the holiday market to jumpstart the Christmas-y vibe every Nadal (Christmas in Catalan). Read on to see what…
Category: Christmas
Magical Christmas Activities in Barcelona 2024
Bon Nadal, Bones Festes! Want to get holiday mood, indulge yourself in the festivities, feel that special holiday magic that only comes once a year? Welcome to the magical Christmas activities in Barcelona 2024! Let’s make the best of what we have. Seriously! 1. Visit the Pessebre at Plaça Sant Jaume. The Pessebre, or Nativity Scene,…
Fun Christmas Activities for Kids in Barcelona 2023
Celebrating Christmas in Barcelona is a unique experience. For one thing, where else can get presents from the Catalan Christmas log, the tió de nadal? Without further ado, here are FUN Christmas activities for kids in Barcelona 2023! You must reserve in advance for many of these activities, starting on December 14 or 15. Set…
Caga Tió, A Crapping Christmas Icon
He’s a defecating log with an exuberant smile on his face. And he brings holiday joy to Catalan children every Christmas. I don’t really quite remember the exact moment when I heard about the peculiar Catalan tradition of the Tió de Nadal (Christmas log), commonly called the Caga tió (pooping log). I’m sure that it took awhile…
How to Care For Your Caga Tió (Tió de Nadal, Catalan Christmas Log)
If you want presents on Christmas Eve, you’ve gotta do some work: Give your tió de nadal some tender lovin’ care. And if you’ve never heard of him… The tió de nadal is a log with a face on it. And he poops presents for Catalan children on Christmas Eve. So if you have a…
Christmas at the Santa Llúcia Fair
Christmas at the Santa Llúcia Fair The month of December is chock full of holiday-inspired activities in Barcelona. The downside is that you have to pick and choose which are worthwhile events because it’s impossible to fit them all in your agenda! Me, I never miss the yearly Fira de Santa Llúcia (Santa Lucia Fair) in the…
Barcelona’s Non-Traditional Nativity Scene: Yay or Nay?
My family and I arrived at Plaça Sant Jaume to check out an awesome annual Christmas tradition in Barcelona. That would be the city’s official pessebre vivent, or living Nativity scene. It’s usually an extensive and elaborate pastoral landscape framing a grand moment in history — the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago. We were looking forward to…
City of Lights
Barcelona at night is glistening right now. With all its holiday lights illuminating the streets, the city was beckoning us to come out and enjoy the Christmas glory. We intentionally left at late afternoon and waited for dusk to set in to see them turn on. And as soon as it hit 6pm, the city…