Spanish Christmas markets differ from those of northern Europe: less mulled wine and wooden huts, more figures for the nativity scene, traditional sweets and joke items for New Year's Eve. They usually open in late November and stay until 24 December or 6 January.
Madrid
The Plaza Mayor market is the capital's oldest and most famous: over a hundred stalls sell nativity figures and moss, decorations and above all colourful wigs, hats and jokes for Nochevieja and Holy Innocents' Day. Other markets are held in Plaza de España and in the neighbourhoods, and the Christmas lights of the central streets are not to be missed (see Madrid).
Barcelona
The Fira de Santa Llúcia, in front of the cathedral, has been held since 1786 and offers everything for the Catalan nativity, including caganers, and tions, the logs with the face of the caga tió (see Christmas). Another busy market is held next to the Sagrada Família, and in recent years markets with music and food have appeared in Plaça de Catalunya and Port Vell (see Barcelona).
Other cities
- Seville: the Feria del Belén near the cathedral, with terracotta figures and Andalusian crafts, and the crafts market in Plaza Nueva.
- Valencia: markets in Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Plaza de la Reina, with Jijona turrón and ceramics.
- Bilbao: on 21 December the Santo Tomás Fair, a big market of Basque farm produce, where people eat talo con chorizo and drink cider.
- Granada, Málaga and Zaragoza have markets in their main squares; Málaga is also famous for the lights of Calle Larios.
- In the Canaries and the south you can browse a Christmas market in short sleeves.
What to buy
Besides decorations, this is the time to buy turrón, polvorones and Toledo marzipan (see Christmas food), a Christmas Lottery ticket, or a tenth share, from the most famous outlets such as Doña Manolita in Madrid, and a bag of peeled grapes for New Year.