Isn't it nice to walk around the streets and feel Christmas in the air?
But when you are in a foreign city, sometimes you are a bit lost trying to find the local Christmas spots...
Here are some suggestions to get the most of your Christmas in Barcelona!
VISITING AND STROLLING AROUND
- Christmas market in front of the Old Cathedral: Nativities, Christmas threes and local traditions.
- Real size Nativities: in the cloister of the Old Cathedral and in the Plaça Sant Jaume.
- Nativities Diorama exhibit: in the Betlem Chruch (La Rambla).
- Christmas lights: In the evening, walk down Passeig de Gràcia, accross Plaça Catalunya and continue down Les Rambles and into the Gothic Quarter. Lights on from 6pm to 9pm aprox.
- Cycling to light a Sustainable Christmas Three: This year the city council has set up a few sustainable Christmas trees. Some, like the one between the Arc de Triomf and the Ciutadella Park work with sun power. Others, like the one in the gardens at the crossing between Passeig de Gràcia and Diagonal Avenue, or the one in front of the Santa Caterina Market, work with the energy generated by people cycling.
- Ponsetia: In Christmas time La Rambla is red and green from this plant. Get to the flower market to buy one and decorate your house!
CHRISTMAS THEATER: THE "PASTORETS"
The favorite version of the story of the birth of Jesus was written by the Catalan author Josep Maria Folch i Torres, and it is often performed in local theaters for the pleasure of children and adults. It's such a big thing here, than even the local TV organised a reality show to choose the best actors for the characters! Check it out here! (although it's of course in Catalan, but it's fun!).
My reccomendation to see the Pastorets play (in Catalan, but it's a real local experience!):
- Centre Moral i Instructiu de Gràcia. 9, Ros de Olano st. December 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th at 6pm, and the 26th at 7.30pm. It's an amateur group of theater with a long tradition in the neighbourhood, an oportunity to see the real Barcelona ambiance.
CHRISTMAS MASS
In Catalonia, the big mass is on Christmas eve. It's called the Rooster Mass (Missa del Gall), because it takes place by midnight. Some beautiful services are:
- Santa Maria del Mar church: 11.45pm (Sibilla chant followed by the Rooster Mass).
- Cathedral: 11pm (Vigil prayer), midnight (Rooster Mass).
OUT OF TOWN: PESSEBRES VIVENTS
A Pessebre Vivent is a Life Nativity. In many Catalan villages the neighbours organize representations of Bethlehem and the Nativity with real people and animals. It is not exactly a theater play, as the characters don't talk. It's selected scenes of the story of the birth of Jesus, presented along a path outdoors. It is beautiful, and a large number of inhabitants of the village get involved in its organization: they consider it an honour!
The oldest Pessebre Vivent is the one of Corbera de Llobregat, played every year since 1962. See some images here.
MY SUGGESTION: TAKE A CHRISTMAS BARCELONA TOUR!
If you love Christmas, contact me and I'll organize a Christmas-focussed tour specially for you!
A Barcelona walk, or even a drive to Corbera to see their Pessebre Vivent!
Price depends on itinerary and transportation needs. Contact me for more information!
1 comment:
By the way, if you are interested in Nativities, I found two more related exhibits:
- "Fent camí per la molsa" (On route through moss), at the Artesania Catalunya center (11, Banys Nous), about the meaning of the traditional characters of Catalan Nativities.
and
- "Pessebres / Szopki", about Nativities over the Mediterranean area, at the Diocesan Museum / Pia Almoina (next door to the Old Cathedral).
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