All parents want to give their child the BEST Christmas – in Alicante you get to celebrate, not once, not twice, but three times, during the festive period!
Christmas Markets
Every city and town in Spain has some kind of Christmas Market where the stalls sell nativity figurines, Christmas trees, decorations, hand-crafted gifts, flowers and sweets. In Alicante there is lots going on!
Visit your local Belén
As Spain is a Roman Catholic country, the nativity scene is a very important part of Christmas. In Spain, the Spanish always make time to visit them – and in Alicante the Belen (nativity) museum is open all year!
Book a Christmas show
Whether a pantomime, circus or musical theatre, Christmas in Alicante is a great time to get the family together for a show.
Eat Turrón, Mantecads and Polvorones
In Spain it just wouldn’t be Christmas without turrón. Turrón is a nougat made out of almonds, honey and sugar, and comes in both hard and soft varieties as well as chocolate and many other versions. Other Spanish Christmas treats include marzipan, mantecados, and polvorones, which are traditional Spanish Christmas biscuits.
Ring The Bells
Another fun Christmas Eve Alicante musical tradition involves ringing the bells. In Alicante at midnight all the church bells are rung, calling everyone to a church service called “La Misa Del Gallo,” or the rooster’s mass. In Spain, each child is given a small hand bell to ring in Christmas Day.
Make A Christmas Eve Box
Made as a gift to start the Christmas festivities, in Alicante the boxes contain a pair of pyjamas, some socks, chocolates, a Christmas mug, selection of hot chocolate drinks and a book. This helps the children prepare for a visit from Santa and snuggle up in bed.
Santa
In Spain, Santa is not the massive attraction he is in the UK – because he has to compete the Three Kings, but his popularity is growing and Alicante now has Santa in his house during December!
Write To Los Reyes Magos
In Spain, the festive season carries on until the New Year. On the evening January 5th, children get a visit from the Three Kings (Wise Men). Spanish children write a letter to the Three Kings with their Christmas wish list and assurances that they have spent the year being good. Letters are delivered before January 5th to one of the royal ‘postboxes’ in shopping centres around Spain.
Catch Sweets At La Cabalgata
On the evening of January 5th, all towns in Spain receive the traditional visit of the Three Kings of the East: Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – a magical experience for all Spanish children. The parade represents the journey made by the Three Kings on their camels, following the star to the Bethlehem stable where Jesus was born. Alicante streets are packed with floats carrying the three kings. Tip Take an umbrella, turn it upside down and then your kids can catch loads of sweets!
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