Top Christmas Markets in Barcelona you must visit
Christmas, the happiest time of the year. The perfect season to enjoy family, gifts, and dinners. The snow starts to fall from the sky, the logs burn in the chimney and families gather to sing carols, celebrate and spend time together. This is the moment of the year to leave the cold outside and enjoy the warm feeling of being with family and friends. Why should we bother going outside?
Well, in Barcelona a lot is going on during this time of the year. And first and foremost, Christmas is the time to preserve the traditions. Christmas has a full package: the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, the sweets, the decorations, the family reunions, etc. Every family in every city in every country in the world have their traditions. Nobody knows how the traditions started, but people stick to them. Some families cook unique recipes for Christmas dinner, some go to church or their religion´s temple or just drink and dance until late at night.
For the Catalan families, there is no tradition bigger than visiting a Christmas Market. Why? Because Christmas markets are the best places to dive in the Christmas spirit. You share with your relatives a lovely walk, buy all Christmas gifts or the supplies you might need for Christmas dinner and feel the Christmas magic in the air. But it can also become a tremendous touristic experience for foreign visitors if they want to learn more about the most traditional Catalonian Christmas ingredients, mainly because some of them are very curious and weird.
For example, there is a traditional figurine Catalans place into the famous Nativity Scene, called “Caganer”. It represents a shepherd squatting and going number 2 on the floor. A lot of people get surprised when they learn that this is not a joke or a toy, but a real traditional Catalan figurine coming from the 17th century. The surprise gets even bigger when they see with their own eyes the great offer of “Caganers” in the Christmas Markets, some of them representing celebrities such as football players, actors, and politicians.
Another exotic tradition that baffles visitors is that, in Catalonia, the children gifts aren´t brought by Santa Claus, but by the Three Wise Men. They are also brought by a big piece of log called “Tió.” How? Well, this magical Catalonian log has the power of “producing” gifts under a blanket after a ritual consisting of beating it with a stick. Once again, this is 100% true.
So, if you want to spend a lovely evening experimenting the real Christmas in the Catalan capital, and getting acquainted with the quirkiest Catalan traditions, take good note of this list of Christmas Markets in Barcelona.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Christmas Markets in Barcelona you shouldn’t miss
1. Fira de Santa Llúcia
When can you visit this Christmas Market in Barcelona? From 30th of November until 23th of December
Where is it? Catedral de Barcelona
Price? Free!
The Fira de Santa Llúcia is the oldest Christmas Market in Barcelona. According to some documents of the time, the first Fira started in the 1786 Christmas. Old pictures show that the fair has changed a lot since then. In the 20th century, the fairgrounds used to mount their stands with a large wooden board and simple shelves, protecting them with a rudimentary tent waterproofed with linseed oil. They also used oil lamps when it began to get dark. Now, on the other hand, the stands are made of wood, and are well equipped and illuminated with electric light.
No doubt, the Fira de Santa Llúcia is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted Christmas traditions in the city of Barcelona. This Christmas market will at the end of this month and it will offer traditional Christmas products for all the family.
2. Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família
When can you visit this Christmas Market in Barcelona? From 29th of November until 23th of December
Where is it? Sagrada Família Square
Price? Free!
In front of the Sagrada Família, the most famous work of the architect Antonio Gaudí, you can find this emblematic Christmas market. Within these stands all over the Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família, you will find beautiful figurines for your Nativity Scene, Christmas decorations and all kinds of Christmas-related products. Also, Christmas trees and plants and various dressings, as well as gift items can be found on their shelves. Besides, some booths offer food products and sweets, especially roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes.
The Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família is a great place to find everything you need to decorate your house these holidays. This fair was born in the sixties, and since then it has been settled every year near the most emblematic building of Antoni Gaudí, becoming an essential date for the Christmas in Barcelona.
3. Fira de Reis de la Gran Vía
When can you visit this Christmas Market in Barcelona? From 20th of December until 6th of January
Where is it? Gran Via, between Calabria and Rocafort St.
Price? Free!
The Fira de Reis is on the sides of the Gran Via Street during most of the Christmas holidays. In their stands, you can find the perfect present for your loved ones, such as toys, jewelry, ceramics, clothes, soaps, and decorative items. Located between the streets of Calabria and Rocafort, there are 168 booths in which you will find toys and plush dolls, crafts and gift shops, and churros, traditional Spanish sweets made with fried dough. Foreign visitors appreciate this Christmas market in Barcelona for its originality and authenticity.
Other fairs have very traditional products and Christmas decorations, but the Gran Via Market specializes in the craft made products, food and Catalonian products that sometimes can be hard to find. Another reason to visit this Market and get precious and unique Christmas gifts for the whole family.
Visiting the Christmas markets in Barcelona would be the perfect plan for a winter day or evening in the Catalan capital. Walking down the Ramblas from Plaza Catalunya until reaching the Fira de Santa Llúcia, for example. Walking through the stands, seeing the people shopping and discovering the true meaning of Christmas.
Extra tip: Going to a “Xocolateria” (chocolate store) to get a hot chocolate after the visit would be the perfect ending to your day!
