If you are studying in Catalonia this year, it is important that you know the key dates and festivities of Christmas and what you can’t miss in Barcelona at Christmas 2024. With our guide you will be able to enjoy a magical time full of lights, typical customs and delicious gastronomy.
Barcelona at Christmas 2024: the most important dates
Christmas is a magical time of the year to share with those we love the most. The streets are filled with lights and Christmas decorations, the cafes smell of hot chocolate and typical Christmas sweets and movies under the blanket become the ideal plan. In Catalonia there are some key dates that you should be well aware of and know in depth in order to celebrate them with all those around you.
Unihabit’s university residence halls offer a guide for university students who don’t want to miss the most magical days of the Christmas holidays. Get your calendar and write down all those traditions that you can’t miss!
Christmas Calendar in Catalonia
- 24th December: Christmas Eve and Cagar el Tió (Christmas Cake)
- 25th December: Christmas Day
- 26th December: Saint Stephen’s Day
- 28th December: Saint Innocents
- 31 December: New Year’s Eve
- 1st January: New Year’s Day
- 5 January: Epiphany Parade
- 6 January: Epiphany
Traditions in Barcelona Christmas 2024
Christmas Eve and Cagar el Tió – December 24th
For many, Christmas Eve symbolises the arrival of Father Christmas. However, for many Catalan children there is a more important and magical figure: the Tió. A tradition that is only celebrated in Catalonia, but which has become known all over the world. So if you are a university student in Barcelona, Girona, Sant Cugat or Manresa, you can’t miss it.
A few days before the 24th of December at night, each family builds a Tió, with a wooden trunk. The little ones give it food so that the Tió grows bigger and bigger (which means presents and more presents!). On the night of 24th December, with the whole family, they celebrate the tradition by singing around the Tió while hitting it with a stick. The best surprise is that the Tió shits presents!!!
Christmas Day – 25th December
Christmas Day, as is customary in other countries that celebrate this Christian holiday, falls on 25 December. Normally, in Catalonia, everyone gets together to eat with the family and celebrate Christmas with a delicious meal!
The most typical menu for Christmas Day is escudella, carn d’olla or sopa de galets as a first course and stuffed chicken, meat in sauce or cannelloni as a second course, but don’t forget to leave room for dessert! Finish the meal enjoying the typical Christmas sweets such as nougat, wafers, polvorones, panettone, etc. And finally, toast with cava!
And if you are one of those who can’t wait to open the presents, after the meal will be the best moment.
St. Stephen’s Day – 26 December
If the Christmas meal is not enough, the day after is St. Stephen’s Day. At this meal, you can still enjoy your family, whether you celebrate Christmas Day with them or not.
The Three Wise Men arrive – 5 and 6 January
The Three Wise Men parade from the East, with all the gifts they leave for fireplaces and balconies, is a tradition that not only enchants children, but also adults, whether you are a university student or a spontaneous visitor.
If you are a student at Unihabit, whether in Barcelona, Girona, Sant Cugat or Manresa, on 5 January you can enjoy a spectacular Three Kings parade. And if you’ve behaved well this year, don’t forget to go to bed early to open your presents on the morning of January 6th!
Experience Christmas in Barcelona 2024 from the Unihabit halls of residence
Whether you are staying at our Unihabit Barcelona, Unihabit Girona, Unihabit Sant Cugat or Unihabit Manresa residence halls, you will be able to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere that is already beginning to appear in the different cities. In addition, you and your colleagues will enjoy decorating the residence hall with Christmas decorations and, why not organise a Christmas dinner before the Christmas holidays?
