Spain has numerous winter festivals to celebrate the holidays, prepare for winter or ward off illness. Of course eating, drinking, and music are involved, as well as family and friends. Check out these festivals if you’re traveling to Spain in November or December.
December 22 is El Gordo for Spanish lottery. People buy tickets in August and then wait 5 hours watching on television to see if they won. Boys from San Ildefonso Orphanage draw out the numbers on wooden balls and then sing the numbers. There can be multiple winners with the same numbers. Groups will by a single ticket together and split it if they win.
Nochebuena is Christmas Eve and when families will have dinner together. They would eat roasted lamb, turron made from toasted sweet almonds, and polvorones made from almonds, flour, and sugar. They would drink Spanish wine, Cava, and Catalan champagne.
December 28, is Santos Inocentes or Holy innocents, when people play jokes on each other. It is very similar to April Fool’s Day. One person might become mayor and order others around to do a civil task. If that task is not completed then they will pay a fine to pay for the festival celebration.
NocheVieja is New Year’s in Spain on December 31. It is tradition to eat 12 grapes, to bring good luck in the New Year. One grape must be eaten on each stroke of the clock to midnight. People tend to stay home until midnight and then go out to party until after sunrise.
Andalucía, Spain celebrates Feast of San Martin and The Verdiales Music Festival. November 11th, is Feast of San Martin that is an occasion for slaughtering pigs in preparation for winter food. They have a fiesta called “la matanza” meaning the killing. Feast of San Martin is celebrated in all villages and town of Andalucía mountain areas. The festival has a great deal of eating and drinking. The Verdiales Music Festival is December 28 at Venta at “Puerta de la Torre.” Groups of local musicians will compete on stage from neighboring villages.
Seville, Spain celebrates Immaculada, which is Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is the beginning of religious Christmas Celebrations on December 8. Music and dancing fill the streets for the festival. Granada celebrates Hogueras meaning bonfires. It takes place December 21, on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. This festival involves people jumping through fires to protect themselves against illness.