Filled with traditions
and nice meals
Christmas in Spain is full of traditions, deeply rooted and passed down from generation to generation. This year, in times of coronavirus, some of them will have to be adapted, but, we can think of many alternatives to enjoy a different and unforgettable Christmas.
Typical Christmas meals in Spain
For many, there is nothing better than a Christmas meal at home to enjoy good food in the company of the family, this year more than ever. The most important dates for these meals are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year Eve and New Year Day. Four days to gather around the table and enjoy a festive meal.
Traditional Spanish Christmas gastronomy is full of exquisite dishes; seafood, turkey, sea bream or roasted suckling pig, recipes that we reserve for special occasions like this.
In recent years the Spanish kitchen has undergone a real revolution. All kinds of ingredients and food have been adapted and introduced in different combinations. The most creative chefs include haute cuisine techniques at Christmas.
Typical dishes in different regions
In Southern Spain, it is common to find the Jabugo ham and seafood on the Christmas tables. In the Castilla area, it is common to find the typically baked lamb and the Segovian suckling pig. Further north, in Galicia and Asturias, seafood is mandatory. In the Northeast, the Basque Country and Navarra, sea beams become the main dish. In Catalonia, on the eastern coast, it is common to eat pasta soup. In Valencia, they often put meat stew on their Christmas menus.
Polvorones and mantecados: Andalusian Christmas cakes
Mantecados, alfajores, polvorones, anise rolls and sweetbreads are found in all bakeries and candy stores from November and through the festive season. Those desserts are the perfect finishing of Andalusian Christmas dinners.
Nougat from Alicante: Turrón
Nougat or turrón has become a symbol of Christmas in Spain and is known all around the world, turrón is the most typical Spanish Christmas sweet. The Spanish Christmas nougats contain honey and almonds. There are two traditional varieties, hard and soft. The hard nougat has whole almonds, and the soft turrón contains crushed almonds and honey, forming a creamy dough. Marzipan is also a Christmas sweet in Spain. The sweet delights are the dessert of the main festive Christmas meals.
Eat 12 lucky grapes on New Year’s eve.
On New Year’s Eve in Spain, it is tradition to gather for dinner while awaiting midnight. When the clock tower bell on Puerta del Sol in the centre of Madrid rings twelve times, one has to eat a grape for each one of them to have a lucky year ahead.
January 6 – Christmas presents and Roscón de Reyes
On January 6, the Spanish children receive their Christmas gifts, and it is customary to eat roscón de Reyes. It is a sweet cake in the shape of a large doughnut, topped with frosted fruit and almonds. The classic roscón is a plain sweet bread, but today it is often filled with cream or truffle. Inside the cake, there are two hidden surprises; a bean and a small figure. Whoever gets the bean has to pay for the cake. The one that gets the character or figure becomes king for a day.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Quartiers Marbella Apartments! We hope to see you again in 2021. Welcome back to our little paradise in the sunshine!
THE FOUR SEASONS IN MARBELLA
WHY WE LOVE COSTA DEL SOL
VISIT COSTA DEL SOL IN WINTER
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Well-planned two-bedroom apartments. Perfect for smaller families with children. Located on ground level and first floor.
