Enjoying Holiday Traditions Across Spain

If you take twelve grapes, a wooden log, and a bit of poop (yes, poop), you’ve got the makings of some of Spain’s most beloved holiday traditions.

Spain celebrates the holidays with a blend of regional quirks, deeply rooted Catholic traditions, and a national love of good food and joyful gatherings.

Belénes: More Than a Nativity Scene

Throughout Spain, you’ll see Belénes (miniature nativity scenes) in homes, shop windows, public buildings, and for sale at Christmas markets. Many are elaborate, complete with rivers, windmills, mossy hills, and entire villages. Families collect figurines year after year, slowly building their own tiny Bethlehem.

Meet Caganer: The Cheeky Nativity Guest

Now, about the poop.

In some parts of Spain, particularly in Catalonia and other Catalan-speaking regions, you’ll find one unexpected figure tucked into the nativity scene: the caganer, whose name translates to “the defecator.”

He wears traditional Catalan clothing — red cap, white shirt, boots — and squats discreetly in a corner, answering nature’s call. The origins are fuzzy, but theories range from fertilization symbolism to the idea that everyday life carries on, even in the presence of the sacred.

Nowadays, caganers come in all forms, including celebrity versions that depict famous athletes, politicians, or pop-culture icons. When I first learned about this, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Now I embrace it as one of Spain’s most delightfully irreverent holiday quirks.

Speaking of Poop… Meet Caga Tió 

If one poop-themed tradition isn’t enough, regions such as Catalonia and parts of Aragon have Caga Tió, also known as the “pooping log.”

Caga Tió is a wooden log with a painted face, a red Catalan cap, and little legs. Children “feed” him throughout December with fruit and sweets. On Christmas Eve, the family gathers around, sings a special song, and hits the log with sticks until he “poops” out gifts and treats (which the parents have secretly placed under the blanket covering Caga Tió's backside).

The song, translated from Catalan, goes something like:

Poop, log,

Christmas log,

Don’t poop sardines —

They’re too salty!

Poop nougats —

They’re much better!

Caga Tió’s roots trace back to ancient winter solstice rituals involving burning logs for warmth and good fortune.

Sweet Treats of the Season: A National Delight

While the pooping traditions are regional, the sweets unite the whole country. Spain takes its holiday treats seriously, and the dessert table is often as crowded as a summer beach in August. Popular favorites include:

Turrón

Spain’s iconic Christmas nougat, typically made from almonds and honey. It comes in soft, hard, chocolate, toasted, marzipan-filled — you name it.

Polvorones & Mantecados

Originally from Andalusia, these crumbly shortbread-style cookies practically melt in your hands as soon as you touch them. They’re messy, delicious, and essential to the season.

Mazapán

Beloved in Toledo and beyond, these marzipan treats often come shaped like little animals, fruits, or festive figures. Perfect with an afternoon coffee.

Roscón de Reyes

A crown-shaped sweet bread eaten on January 6th for Three Kings Day. It’s topped with candied fruit and often filled with cream. Hidden inside is a tiny figurine — find it, and you’ll enjoy good luck (and traditionally, you must also buy next year’s cake).

A New Year’s Tradition: Eat Your Grapes — Fast

Across Spain, the year ends with a simple but dramatic ritual: eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

As the clock counts down the final twelve seconds, you eat one grape per chime — one for each month ahead. Finishing all twelve in time is said to bring good luck. Whether you succeed or end up laughing and choking on grape skins with everyone else, it’s one of the most fun shared traditions in the country.

Three Kings Day: The Grand Finale

Think Christmas Day is the end of the festivities? Not in Spain.

January 6th, Three Kings Day, is when children across the country receive gifts. The night before, cities and towns host parades, with the Three Kings arriving by boat, horse, or elaborate floats to greet the crowds. Families gather the next morning to open presents, share a long lunch, and enjoy a slice of Roscón de Reyes.

The holidays officially wind down after this day, though some of us cling to our turrón stash a little longer.

A Glimpse into Spain's Holiday Spirit

Spain’s holiday season is a rich tapestry woven from regional customs, timeless rituals, and joyful celebrations. From quirky Catalan figures to nationwide traditions like the twelve grapes and Three Kings Day, the season blends humor, history, and togetherness in a way that feels uniquely Spanish.

Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo!

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