Christmas amid Covid: what will the 2021 holiday period be like?

The second Christmas during the Covid-19 era is only around the corner, bringing hopes for a merry festive season but also caution amid the ongoing pandemic. 

There is one major difference between Christmas 2021 and Christmas 2020: the success of the vaccination programme. 

Last year, the world was buoyed by the news of emerging vaccines being developed with high efficacy rates. The first Covid-19 jab was administered on December 27, 2020, and millions more have since followed. 

According to the latest data released by Catalan health authorities on November 11, 2021, exactly 75.1% of the total population has received at least one dose of a coronavirus jab, and this figure rises to 85.1% when taking into account only the population eligible to be given a vaccine (over 12s). 

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, praised the Covid-19 vaccination rollout in Catalonia, saying: "I congratulate you, most honorable president (Pere Aragonès), on the very impressive figure of more than 85% of people above the age 12 now have been vaccinated. Congratulations to the government and to the people."

Given this, the Catalan secretary of public health, Carmen Cabezas, predicts we will be able to enjoy a “fairly normal” Christmas. 

Speaking with Catalan radio station RAC1 on November 4, Cabezas explained that Catalonia will likely see an increase in new cases in the coming weeks, but for now, the incidence rate remains relatively low and the impact is under control.

Indeed, the latest wave of the pandemic is being felt much milder in Catalonia than in other parts of Europe. 

The health official believes it will be necessary to be vigilant throughout the autumn and winter, which are typical times for seasonal illnesses such as respiratory viruses to flare up. 

Spanish president Pedro Sánchez echoed the same sentiments, saying that the country is undergoing a "robust", "rapid" and "fair" recovery thanks to the workings of his executive.

Now, according to the Socialist, "Spain is doing better" and "this Christmas will be better than the previous one."

Sánchez added that in Spain, the evolution of the pandemic situation is “positive” compared with other European countries, with a much lower incidence rate and with a lot more “hope” than last winter.

Speaking in the Spanish congress on Wednesday, he pointed to the vaccination programme as key to the success of the recovery, with take-up rates "well above countries such as France, Germany and the United States."

Christmas markets 

Barcelona’s biggest Christmas market, the Santa Llúcia fair, is planning on going ahead this year, with an even larger offering of stalls and stores than in 2020. 

Last year, there were 121 stalls at the market, while this year will see that number rise to 170. 

Shoppers will be able to find traditional Catalan decorations, including ‘tió’ pooping logs and ‘caganers,’ pooping figurines, as well as Christmas trees and other festive trinkets. 

And if you've ever wondered why so many Catalan Christmas traditions involve poo, you can find out here.

Capacities at the Santa Llúcia market will be controlled at 30% to allow all visitors to have a safe distance, and eight staff members are hired to be added to the five civic agents provided by the city council to let the fair go ahead in the safest possible manner.

The Fira de Santa Llúcia will open on Friday, November 26, and will stay open until Thursday, December 23. 

Opening hours will be from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, and as ever, it will be held in Avinguda de la Catedral, right in front of Barcelona cathedral. 

This year’s edition will be the 235th time the fair in honour of Santa Llúcia’s Day on December 13 will be celebrated.

The Catalan capital will also play host to other important Christmas markets this winter, including the Sagrada Família Christmas fair also from November 27 to December 23, and the Gran Via Kings’ Fair from December 13 to January 6.

The Sagrada Familia market will have 40 stalls with some specially dedicated to seasonal foods and delights, while on Gran Via there will be around 200 stalls selling lots of children’s toys and other festive bits and pieces. 

If it’s a Christmas tree you’re looking for, then the best place in all of Catalonia to go is the Fira de l’Avet d’Espinelves. 

The small town in between Girona and Vic is the Christmas tree capital of the country, where between December 4-12, 2021, visitors will be able to find the perfect fir, spruce, or pine for this winter. 

As well as trees, the fair specializes in all sorts of Christmas decorations and goods, including artisanal crafts making for a great gift, quality Catalan foods to eat well and be merry this December, and traditional items for the season such as a ‘tió’.