I'll be in Madrid, Spain for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Are there special Masses, festivals, events?

Question

We are arriving in Madrid on December 23 and have three days to make the most of our trip. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day may be very family-oriented for the Spanish and I wonder what we will be able to do. Are there events on Christmas Eve in churches and elsewhere?

Answer 1

Well, yes. In Madrid you can go to Plaza Mayor and enjoy the street market with  typical Christmas stuff. And on Christmas Eve there´s a mass called "Misa del gallo", which is at 12 am (yes, at night!); just check at your hotel which churches will have one. It´s a very familiar night. Christmas Day is also familiar and many people go to mass (if they didn´t go to Misa del gallo the previous night). We do not usually exchange our presents that day, but on January 6th, as we celebrate the Three Wise Kings (although may families give presents both on Christmas Day and on Jan 6th!!).

I think you´ll find these pages useful:

http://gospain.about.com/od/christmasins...

http://www.escuelai.com/spanish_magazine...

http://www.worldwidewanderings.com/chron...

Have a nice Christmas!

Answer 2

Christmas in Spain is not as huge a commercial occasion as is the case in many other western cities. see http://www.spain4uk.co.uk/christmas.htm

Answer 3

Yes.  Spain is a Catholic country.  Christmas is a very festive time in Spain.

Here is a website that is about Christmas traditions in Spain:

http://www.santas.net/spanishchristmas.h...