At Hamiltons of London real estate we love the lively, traditions and friendly family gatherings enjoying good company and food that epitomises life in Spain. Entrepreneurs who chose to open a Hamiltons of London franchise in any of the beautiful towns or cities in Spain should exude the same exuberance and passion for the country that will become your client’s new home. At Christmas time these are the qualities in Spain that brightly shine throughout the country with communities celebrating together. Food is at the centre of the season’s festivities and in modern Spain you will find recipes that have been passed down through generations of Spanish culinary heritage with international influences. Christmas in Spain now reflects the cultural variety found here as well as the festive spirit and tasty dishes that include both Iberian favourites and global flavours.
Celebration and Abundance
In Spain Christmas starts early in December and lasting until 6th January and includes several important dates including Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), Christmas Day (Navidad), New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) and Epiphany (Día de Reyes). Each day brings its own tradition to the festive table, but each meal will have an abundance of food, wine and laughter. There will be regional differences but traditionally meals are likely to be roast lamb, seafood, and turron. In multicultural communities in Spain other international flavours have become more common embracing global flavours creating an inclusive Christmas feast.
Traditional Christmas Food in Spain
Spain has some delicious food to festoon a Christmas table providing a feast fit for a king. These include delicious, cured meats with Manchego cheese and crusty bread as an appetizer. Coastal areas in particularly Galicia and Andalusia celebrate with seafood including prawns, clams and lobster which are usually simply prepared to ensure that the quality and freshness can be fully enjoyed. In cooler inland parts of Spain, the table is filled with tasty winter warmers including roast lamb or suckling pig slow cooked to provide a tender golden centrepiece. Some areas will also ensure that there is a hearty stew kept hot to welcome the household home after Midnight-Mass. Christmas in Spain however would be incomplete without a sweet treat or two and every house will have turron and Polvorones to enjoy with a sparkling glass of cava.
A Fusion of Cuisine elevating Spanish Christmas Fare
The evolution of food in Spain has been influenced through the ages by trade, migration and cultural exchange so that today many international dishes will appear alongside traditional Spanish meals. This represents both personal family history as well as the modern multi-cultural society of ex-pats across Spain who have integrated with their Spanish neighbours to share food and recipes.
Italian Inspiration
Many families in Spain now include some Italian inspired recipes as a tasty addition to their Christmas feasts including antipasti platters, risotto and lasagna which all pair well with Spanish wines. Alongside the polvorones you may also find a slice of Panettone is offered and sometimes served toasted with butter following midnight mass.
Latin American Flavours
Spain and Latin America have a strong historical connection this has added some tasty morsels to the Spanish home at Christmas time, including tamales, empanadas and roast suckling pig. There are also several Latin American restaurants on the peninsula particularly in larger cities and it has become an easy matter to find these ingredients in markets and supermarkets
Traditional Fare from Northern Europe
Many ex-pats from northern Europe have brought their Christmas traditions to Spain with them and these have gained popularity. Roast turkey, glazed ham, mulled wine as well as Scandinavian smoked salmon and German stollen are now frequently enjoyed by the whole community no matter what their nationality. This adds more variety to the Christmas period with international wintry flavours reflecting the communities who now live in Spain.
Sharing and Togetherness
Christmas in Spain, with the variety of dishes now available, add to the communal meals that last late into the night and the feeling of unity. No matter what is on the table the focus is to spend this time with family and friends. Food ties the families and communities together in a shared celebration and this is a time of year when tradition coexist with international influences. The roots of Spanish cuisine remain strong but open to global additions that enrich the Festive table. In every corner of Spain, the Christmas feast is a joyful reminder that good food knows no borders.
