Holiday Lights in Madrid

In just 3 days the city will finally turn on the holiday lights, after what seemed like weeks of unlit lights hanging in the streets. Each street has a different theme, from boxes of presents on Calle Goya, to snowflakes on Calle Mayor, to giant chandeliers on Jose Ortega y Gasset. The lights will be up all this month, and extend into the first week of January, so take advantage of a dry night (what is with all this rain lately?) and grab your honey or some friends and take a jolly walk through Madrid to enjoy the lights.

While on your walk, you may want to visit one of the many Christmas markets that are set up throughout the city. There are some especially for kids, like “Cortylandia” in Plaza Felipe II. Corte Ingles runs this of course, so don’t be surprised if after enjoying some kiddie rides your children want to scour the store for pricey toys.

A great market for enjoying the holidays is the large annual market in the Plaza Mayor. There are plenty of stalls selling holiday decorations and collectibles. You can buy a Christmas tree here, including those small apartment friendly ones, along with wreaths and other evergreen decorations. There is a carousel for the kids (and adults. Hey, why not?) and of course tons of lights. The lights in the Plaza Mayor are giant circular orbs that hang from the sky. Festive, yes, but also sort of like experiencing a UFO invasion.

Surprisingly, there were no food stalls at the main Christmas market. Upon arriving I was searching for some semblance of holiday fare (my mind instantly brought me back to my last gluhwein and kartoffelpuffer experience in Germany), but this market was really more for presents and decorations. I did find a stand that sells nuts (the kind they carmelize) in the little Christmas market just south of Sol in front of Cine Ideal. And of course there are lots of bars and restaurants in this area to top off the night with some wine or hot chocolate.

Enjoy the holiday season, everyone!

El Día de Los Reyes Magos is upon us!

The holidays still aren’t over in Spain! El Día de Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day), otherwise known as Epiphany in English speaking countries, is even more important than Christmas here in Spain. It is the celebration of the arrival of the Three Kings into Bethlehem and it takes place on 6th January.
The celebrations actually begin on the evening of 5th January with the Calbagata de los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings’ Parade) – it is one of the most important and special events of the year in the Spanish calendar. However, before we go into the details of the celebrations themselves, it's worth looking at the history of this significant event.

History

The arrival of the Three Kings!

In religious tradition, El Día de Los Reyes Magos marks the day that the Three Kings, also known as the Three Wise Men, arrived in Bethlehem having followed the North Star across the desert for twelve days. They came to Bethlehem to give gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. In 1885 the Spanish government decided to mark the Epiphany with a parade and thus it remains a beloved tradition and the longest standing parade in Spain.

The Celebrations

As we said before, the party actually begins in the evening of 5th January with the Three Kings’ Parade. In Madrid, La Castellana, one of the main streets running down through the heart of the city, is shut down for the arrival of the Kings. Hundreds of families and friends seek out the best spots along the road in order to get a good view of the reenactment of their arrival! If you want a good view, we recommend planning ahead and heading down there early – it’s definitely worth it! The atmosphere is incredible as the Kings ride through on horses or extravagant floats, dishing out sweets to the crowd, surrounded by camels, musicians and acrobats. If you’re in Madrid, you must go and admire this amazing spectacle – we cannot recommend it enough!

Los Reyes Magos

After the procession, everyone goes home with a sugar rush from all the sweets and the children, very excited, leave out their shoes for the Kings to find and leave presents in. They also leave food and drink for each of the Kings and their camels! As you've probably noticed, it’s very similar to the tradition of Santa Claus – we all know how exciting it is!

Food

A Roscón de Reyes

As with almost every Spanish fiesta, food plays a vital role! It’s traditional to eat a Roscón de Reyes for breakfast on the 6th which is a ring shaped cake decorated with fruits. Two plastic objects are hidden inside the cake: a faba bean and a King. Whoever picks the piece of cake with the king in it is said to have good luck for the rest of the year whilst the unlucky one who pulls out the faba bean has to pay for the cake! Be sure to get your Roscón de Reyes this week and join in with the Spanish tradition!

We hope you have a wonderful day on the 6th and we wish you a happy New Year from all of us here at AIL Madrid!!

New Year's Eve in Madrid!

La Puerta del Sol

Happy Christmas AIL Madrid students! Now that Christmas is over, the next thing to look forward to is New Year’s Eve! As you might expect, New Year’s Eve or Nochevieja is an incredible time to be in Spain. It’s a very special and significant fiesta filled with excitement, noise, fun and tradition. If you’re lucky enough to be in Spain this weekend, make sure you practice your Spanish and soak up all the tradition and culture!

The 12 Grapes!

Saturday nights in Madrid are already some of the best nights out in the world so this Saturday, New Year’s Eve, promises to be something special. Thousands of people pack into the Puerta del Sol for the both the countdown and the incredible fireworks display. It’s a Spanish tradition that everyone eats twelve grapes, or doce uvas, for every strike of the clock in order to bring them luck for the next twelve months. You’ll see this going on in whichever Spanish city you happen to be celebrating. Another Spanish tradition on New Year’s Eve is dropping a gold object into a glass of Cava in order to bring not just good fortune but an actual fortune in the coming year. Be it a golden ring or a golden coin, it all goes in the glass! Then, in order for the charm to work, once the clock strikes midnight you have to drink the entire glass, retrieving your golden object. Give it a go this Saturday! Spaniards also say that in order to kick off the year on the right foot, your first step after the bells have chimed should be with your right foot. As you can see, midnight kisses alone won’t do you any good here in Spain!

Gold rings in the glasses of Cava

The party certainly does not end at midnight! Cava and cerveza flow in the hundreds of bars, restaurants and nightclubs across Madrid as the party spills onto the streets until the early hours of the morning. As the sun rises on New Year’s Day the churros con chocolate come flooding out as people reminisce on the events of the night before. Madrid really is a wonderful city in which to spend New Year’s Eve!

Christmas time in Madrid!

Can you believe it’s that time of year again?! Christmas is right around the corner and Madrid is preparing itself for another fantastic celebration. Once the decorative lights are up and the Christmas markets are in full flow, there's no better place in the world to enjoy the festivities.

A few things we look forward to sharing with you during this festive season are:

The Christmas Lights

In late November every year, the Christmas lights are turned on throughout Madrid in over 90 streets! Beautifully decorated Christmas trees are also dotted around the city which add to the magical atmosphere. The spectacular lighting of the main buildings such as the Puerta Alcalá and the Palacio de Cibeles has to be seen to be believed and if you're looking for a particularly Christmassy experience, head down to the Puerta del Sol on the day the lights get turned on. They're absolutely stunning!

The Christmas Markets

Christmas is a magical time in Madrid and the Christmas markets play a big part in creating this ‘magic’. Here are two markets that are full of delicious festive snacks and traditional Spanish goodies:

Bienvenido 2016: New Year’s Eve in Madrid!

Spain, as ever, is fully geared up to party “Nochevieja” away. The Spanish love New Year’s Eve so much that even the parties have their own name: Cotillones. Madrid is no exception! If you’re in Madrid this New Year’s Eve don’t expect to be getting much sleep, so AIL Madrid is bringing you the best options:

A Spanish Christmas Carol: Traditions in Spain!

Holiday season is fully upon us here in Madrid so, for those of you lucky enough to be here this month, let’s do a rundown of how the Spanish celebrate Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, Three Kings Day, and more!

December 24th

The Spanish celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) so, on this day, before attending the “Misa del Gallo” (Midnight Mass) they eat a large Christmas meal, which typically involves a turkey or lamb, stuffed with truffle mushrooms, or seafood.
Midnight Mass in Spain is known as “La Misa Del Gallo” because it is believed that a rooster crowed the night that Jesus was born. After mass, the Spanish traditionally walk through the streets carrying torches and playing music on guitars, drums, and tambourines.

The Top 5 Best Christmas Gifts from Madrid!

Christmas is just around the corner! We’ve got our shiniest and best Christmas thinking caps on again here at AIL and have prepared a list of the 5 best holiday gifts from Madrid, just to make your lives that much easier!

1. A Foodie Surprise!

Bring home some of the delicious traditional Spanish cuisine with a paella kit, Spanish jamón, or some of the traditional Spanish Christmas sweets (mazapán, turrón, polvorones etc.)!



TOP TIP: Make it extra special by buying it from one of the Christmas markets in Madrid!

Madrid Christmas Lights and Markets, 2015 Edition!

Christmas Lights

The big day is almost here: on November 27th Madrid will be aglow with holiday spirit as the spectacular Christmas lights are switched on for the first time this season! According to tradition, the lights will be turned on at exactly 6pm the last Friday of November. See below for the complete schedule of sparkling holiday excitement!

This year Madrid is continuing with its eco-friendly, energy-efficient LED displays, which were created just for Madrid by renowned urban designers and architects. One of the most complete ways to enjoy this display is by taking the NaviBus from the stop in front of Serrano 30, which tours the most impressive, breathtaking streets of Madrid. Can you think of a better way to get into the holiday spirit?

The Madrid Christmas Lights 2014

Christmas lights in Sol!

It’s getting colder, pretty decorations are appearing in Madrid’s shops and the festive music is starting to play….this can only mean one thing, Christmas is on its way! And without doubt one of the most magical things about this time of year in Madrid is the incredible Christmas lights. Madrid’s Christmas lights are not only designed by some of the most famous designers in the world, the budget this year has also been increased to 1.7 million Euros, and more streets are being decorated than ever before! We’ll give you all the information you need about the exciting Christmas festivities in Madrid!

New Years and The Three Kings in Madrid

New Year's in Madrid

Madrid is a city that never sleeps, especially during Christmas. Between the Christmas lights, the traditional Christmas markets and all the shopping, the Madrilenians don’t have even a second to get bored. Without a doubt, Madrid has no equal when comes to spending the winter holidays.

When Christmas is gone don’t even think that something has changed, because it only just begins. The celebration of New Years and the Three Kings is just about to begin and if you stay with us through this article, you will discover the significance and the traditions of this holidays. So grab a handful of grapes and ride your camel (just like the Three Kings do), because our story of Madrid is just about to begin.

Things to do this Christmas in Madrid 2013

Tips on how to make the 

most of Christmas in Madrid!

Thanksgiving is over and done with, the Christmas lights are on – Christmas has well and truly arrived in Madrid! The city is sparkling with festive spirit and excitement is in the air… For those lucky enough to be spending Christmas in Madrid, or those of you already in this beautiful city, AIL Madrid will tell you about the best things to see and do in Madrid this festive season!

Let there be light! Madrid’s Christmas Lights 2013

Madrid’s Christmas lights – 

the Spanish Capital shines!

Madrid’s six-month long summer has drawn to a close and suddenly winter is upon us, just in time for Christmas! A brisk wind is blowing the fallen autumn leaves of Retiro, the shops of Gran Via are already stocking up on presents, and stalls selling roasted chestnuts and toffee apples are dotted around Atocha. Make no mistake, Christmas spirit is spreading among Madrileños! But the best of beautiful Madrid at Christmas is yet to come… on the 29th November at 6pm, the Madrid Christmas lights will be switched on!

Things to do in Madrid at Christmas, New Year and "Reyes Magos" (6th January)

Spanish Christmas in Madrid

On the 6th January Spanish kids
receive gifts from the Reyes Magos
- Christmas in Madrid

Christmas begins from the time the lights are turned on and the Christmas decorations are put up in the commercial areas. Do you know about everything that Madrid has prepared for you to enjoy these holidays?

Madrid shines! The 2012 Christmas lights are on!

*To read about this year's Christmas Lights in Madrid, click here!

This Friday Madrid´s 2012 Christmas lights are going to be turned on!

The ever attractive Madrid Christmas lights

Every morning here in Madrid we have seen city council personnel high in the sky on long ladders as they put up the Christmas lights which will illuminate the streets of Madrid and Spain during the festive season. This is Madrid’s way of letting us know that Christmas is soon to be upon us, and that we have a lot to look forward to this Christmas in Madrid. Soon the Christmas nativity scenes will line the streets of Spain, and these will add to the other Christmas classics like snow men, stars, Christmas trees, presents and of course, we are all waiting for the first of the Spanish Christmas carols!

The Three Kings street procession in Madrid is almost here!

From the start of next week the streets of Madrid, and those of all Spanish cities and towns, will start to fill up with floats driven primarily by 3 men wearing beards with sweets, Christmas tinsel to shouting children with wide smiles. Christmas in Madrid is truly something to behold, the mixture of churros with chocolate, searching through the Christmas sales and being in the capital, all encapsulates a great festive period with the main goal of improving your Spanish on your Christmas Spanish Course. However there is also a large emphasis on the birth of Jesus and the story of the Three Wisemen.

Christmas lottery in Madrid

Tomorrow a lucky few become millionaires!

If you´re not having enough fever pitch excitement on your Christmas Spanish Course in Madrid then there´s always the Spanish Christmas lottery to catch your eye! Every year millions of Spanish people are filled with hope upon the arrival of this day (22/12/2011), hoping against hope to become Christmas millionaires... sadly only very few achieve that coveted status. The likelihood of winning something, for those with a ticket in this hugely popular game of chance, is around 5.3%.

Tomorrow Madrid´s Christmas lights are going to be turned on!

*To read about this year's Christmas lights in Madrid, click here!

Every morning here in Madrid we see city council personnel suspended high in the sky on long ladders putting in place the Christmas lights which illuminate the streets of Spain every year during the festive season. It´s Madrid´s way of letting us know that Christmas is coming and that soon the Christmas nativity sets will line the streets of Spain, as well as snow men, stars, Christmas trees, presents and of course, Spanish Christmas carols.