christmas

The night of January 5th is the most important and magical nights of the year for thousands of children in Catalonia. It is when the Three Wise Men –or the Three Kings in Catalan– bring presents. Traditionally in Catalonia, presents are not delivered by Santa Claus on the evening of December 24th, but instead on the evening of January 5th by the Three Kings who arrive in all Catalan towns. Parades are organised to welcome them. Afterwards, when the children are sleeping, they enter through the window or balcony and leave presents for every family member.

Just like every Christmas, traditional Living Nativity Scenes around Catalonia are on show, this year with an expected increase of attendance despite cuts in public subsidies. Towns are unwilling to let budget cuts affect them and they have combined imagination, volunteer work and citizen involvement to maintain the tradition.

The wine sector foresees an increase of cava and wine consumption in Spain and Catalonia, as well as in the foreign market, during the upcoming Christmas holidays. The price adjustment, one of the measures used to fight the financial crisis, will help to sell one million more bottles compared to the same period last year, however producers predict purchases to be last minute.

The ice rink has been fully funded by the private retail sector. It aims to attract locals and visitors to Barcelona city centre in the hope that consumers will spend more in the Christmas period. Catalunya Square is the location for the largest ice-skating rink of its kind in Europe. The attraction has caused controversy because it occupies public space for a private activity in a time of serious economic difficulties.

Wondering why all the children are excited and happy? The Three Kings have already arrived in Catalonia. Their presence has already created a magical atmosphere and on Wednesday night they will deliver gifts to every single house in the country.

The crisis will not stop Catalans from enjoying their traditional King cake on the 6th of January. The most important thing about this special King cake is not the taste, but rather the excitement of the treats that come with it.

Barcelona (ACN).- The main parade will distribute over 40 tonnes of sweets that are suitable for celiacs. It is not Santa who comes to Catalonia bearing gifts, but the Three Wise Men. That is why the 6th January, known as the Day of the Three Magic Kings is celebrated like Christmas in Catalonia

How do Catalans abroad celebrate Christmas? The CNA has met four Catalan and foreign families to discover how they spend Christmas

Esther and Dylan Jeannotte are celebrating Christmas this year in New York with their two children. While their Christmas celebrations are very American, native Catalan Esther is slowly incorporating Catalan traditions such as the ‘caga tió’ and ‘sopa de galets’.

Marc, Catalan, and Elke, German, reside together in Berlin with their daughter Matilda. This year they will spend their first Christmas in Catalonia.

Neus and Cédric plan to celebrate French and Catalan Christmas traditions with their newborn son.

The Caga Tió (literally “poop log”) and Saint Nicholas combined. The Massard Sans family of Brussels celebrates Christmas with a mix of Catalan and Belgian traditions.

Catalan Christmas tree growers have been greatly affected by the crisis, with an almost 50% sales drop in recent years. Growers hope that exporting Christmas trees to countries like France and Portugal will help them come out of the crisis.

Catalans are known throughout the world for their strong-rooted, but strange Christmas traditions. Among them include the ‘caganer’ (crapper), the ‘caga tió’ (poop log) and the traditional ‘pessebre’ (nativity scene).

The ‘caganer’ is a figure in Catalan nativity scenes that is depicted in the act of defecation. The literal translation for ‘caganer’ means ‘shitter’. The tradition has existed in Catalonia and surrounding areas since the 17th century.