The most wonderful time of year is fast approaching, and all the Club MAC Alcudia staff are taking a well-deserved break. While some of the Christmas traditions in Mallorca are similar to the UK, we also have our own ways of enjoying the yuletide period in Spain. Here are a few interesting facts about Christmas in Spain.
Midnight Mass and Christmas Eve
Midnight Mass (La Misa Del Gallo) is very popular with most Spanish people. It directly translates to “The Mass of the Rooster” after a story of the rooster that crowed the night that Jesus was born. Christmas Eve is called ‘Nochebuena’, and in the days leading up to it children sing carols around their neighbourhoods. In Mallorca, we have our own tradition of singing ‘The Sing of the Sibyl’, which is a special Gregorian chant describing the Apocalypse. It has been performed in some Mallorcan churches since Medieval times.
Most Spanish families will eat their main celebration meal on Christmas Eve, before the head off to mass. The traditional feast in Spain for Christmas was turkey stuffed with truffles (pavo trufado de Navidad) or sometimes a roasted young hen (pularda). It’s not a rigid tradition, however, and today people often choose something different. In the north west of Spain, a popular choice for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve is seafood, for example.
Puddings include mazapán, which is the same as the marzipan topping on a traditional English Christmas cake. Other popular choices are turron, which is made from toasted almonds and honey, or polvorones made from butter, four and sugar.
Post-Christmas festivities
An old tradition involves people walking in a torchlight procession through the streets. This would happen after Midnight Mass and would involve people playing drums and tambourines. A commonly heard phrase would be ‘Esta noche es Noche Buena, Y no Es noche de dormir’, which translates as ‘Tonight is the good night and it’s not meant for sleeping!’. The Spanish for ‘happy Christmas’ is ‘Feliz Navidad. Catalonians say ‘Bon Nadal’ and in Basque ‘Eguiberri on’.
After the festivities of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day comes ‘Dia de los santos innocentes’. This is on 28 December and translates to ‘Day of the Innocent Saints’ in English. It’s similar to April Fool’s Day in the UK, with people playing tricks on each other.
New Year’s Eve and Epiphany
Moving on to New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja), a Spanish tradition involves eating 12 grapes along with the 12 strokes of midnight. Each grape is for every month of the next year, so if you eat all 12 you will be lucky.
Another festival in Spain about the birth of Jesus is Epiphany or Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages’. This is on 6 January and celebrates ‘the festival of the three Magic Kings’ who travelled to bring gifts to Jesus. While children do receive presents on Christmas Day, they also get them at Epiphany.
Christmas in Mallorca
On our island of Mallorca, Christmas retains many cultural and Catholic traditions. Most people confine their shopping to December, and the island capital Palma becomes festively atmospheric at this time. Most of the festivities take place in the town, beginning on 8 December, with ‘The Feast of the Immaculate Conception’, which includes a ceremony and a dance named los Seises.
Our Club MAC staff will be resting and recharging before getting the resort ready for next year’s holiday season. Whatever you’re doing for Christmas, don’t forget to plan next year’s summer holiday too! Book online direct with us for the best prices and enjoy the festivities in the meantime!
