Marbella Christmas Holidays.
The clocks have long changed, the trees are turning into their autumn reds and yellows but the sun is still shining and we’re still wearing shorts and t-shirts so it comes as a surprise to see Marbella streets bedecked with Christmas lights and Christmas classics playing in all the shops!
For those of us who have moved here from somewhat whiter and colder climates. The sudden appearance of Christmas comes as a shock. In Spain, Christmas starts, as in much of Europe at some point in the first week of December, with toy adverts on the televisions and streets glowing with lights. Malaga city is a must visit renowned for its spectacular lights winding around the cities old streets.
Marbella Christmas Starts at Home.
Christmas is a magical time of year across Spain and Marbella might become one of your top destinations for the Christmas season, What was once a small white village of fishermen is now one of the most cosmopolitan beach resorts of Europe, is a paradise with the Best Lifestyle, peacefully living this festivities to the full with not many crowded places, with temperature not lower than 15º and enjoying of outside activities. Here, you’ll get to enjoy traditional parades, Christmas shopping, Christmas lights and of course an extensive shopping with many designer boutiques, well known restaurants to choose from and activities to do, Marbella’s old town gets a decorative treatment without a doubt your Marbella Merry Christmas will be remarkable.
What to do in Old Town Marbella during the Christmas season?
Marbella Old Town is one of the most visited parts of the Costa del Sol, each year a broad Christmas program is created by the Town hall with shows, concerts and contests suitable for everyone for this wonderful time of the year where every enchanted corner light up with cheery lights can be best appreciated by exploring back streets in the old part of town, and everyone’s out to buy gift, a magical thing to experience. Everyone takes to the streets to witness this pretty and cheery sight, are welcome to participate in this Christmas conmemoration until January 6th. One of the prettiest places, is our lovely “La Plaza de los Naranjos”, as it is called in Spanish, is a hub of activity day and night located in this “Andalusian village style” old town just off the main street in the older district where you can expect to meet with stately buildings, art galleries, small shops, bars and restaurants and is also home to the 16th century town hall and tourist office. The orange square comes alive in winter with vibrant colours of the trees and exotic tropical plants set against a backdrop of dazzling white buildings and a deep blue sky, and Christmas is a prime time to witness the fabled oranges decorating the trees that this square is named after.
We start with the illuminated streets with Christmas lights and Santa´s Grotto open in Parque de la Alameda.
These are some of the activities in the program:
- Santa´s Grotto in Parque de la Alameda.
- Ballet of Madrid performs in Teatro Ciudad de Marbella. You can find tickets on sale in El Corte Ingles and the Teatre box office.
- Children´s Christmas Card Contest at the historical Center Department on Salinas Stress. (different categories are judged according to age)
- Marbella Christmas Market, the first line of the Puerto Deportivo.
- Children park in the Paseo de la Alameda with a Santa Claus Post office.
- Finally, on January 5th, there is a beautiful parade of Los tres Reyes from the Estadio Municipal de Futbol to Avenida Ricardo Soriano.
Three kings: a spanish christmas tradition.
Christmas celebrations in Spain are winding up for their traditional culmination when Spaniards take to the streets for the spectacular Three Kings parade.
While in other parts of Europe the festive celebrations tend to be focused on Christmas Day, December 25th is more a day for quiet reflection to the average Spaniard, with gifts traditionally being exchanged on January 6th. Tradition has it that the Three Wise Men visit overnight on January 5th bearing presents for children—so long as they have been good—much as Santa does elsewhere in the world on Christmas Eve.
Before going to bed children leave out their shoes with sweet treats for ‘Los Tres Magos’ and hay for their camels. In the morning the sweets are gone and a trail of hay leads to the shoes that are now filled and surrounded by beautifully wrapped presents. For those children who have been naughty there may well be a lump of ‘coal’ included—one that has been made from black coloured sugar.
3 kings Parade.
This year the festivities in Marbella start in the Puerto Deportivo (pleasure port) on January 5th at noon as the Three Kings arrive by boat to be greeted by the mayor. After being presented with the keys to the town, they will be taken on a tour by classic car before the procession starts at 6pm.
It will begin in Avda. Severo Ochoa and proceed along Avenidas Ramón y Cajal and Ricardo Soriano before finishing at Plaza Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra approximately two hours later.
In San Pedro Alcántara the parade is due to start at 6pm in Calle Fuente Nueva and will follow town centre streets before finishing in the Plaza de la Iglesia, while in Nueva Andalucía it begins at 3.30pm at the Parroquia Vírgen Madre church and finishes at Avda. Gustavo Adolfo Becquer.
In Las Chapas the parade is being held a day early. The procession will start in Avda. España at 6.30pm on January 4th and then follow Avda. Valeriano Rodríguez, Calle Joaquín Rodrigo, Avda. Pastoral de Las Chapas and Calle Alcornoque, finishing in Avda. Las Cumbres to complete the Spanish festive season in style.
A big welcome for the Three Kings.
As they come bearing gifts the Spanish naturally think it is only right to give the Three Kings a big welcome the night before, so on January 5th young and old—whole families together—take to the streets in cities, towns and villages in every corner of Spain to view the procession of the kings as they make their much anticipated entrance.
This takes the form of a parade, with the Three Kings either ensconced on thrones borne by floats or riding on horseback whilst throwing sweets to the crowds that line the streets. This often leads to a scramble as youngsters (and sometimes their grannies too) rush to snatch up the treats.
It is a fun evening out, one that reflects the fun-loving nature, family values and respect for tradition of the Spanish people, an event that is well worth a visit to get a true taste of Spain—and a handful of sweets too!
Where to buy Christmas decorations?
In order to enjoy the Christmas spirit, a must essential in our homes are the Christmas decorations and we highly suggest taking a good look at these places to hunt for presents: La Cañada, Marina Banus and ElCorteIngles, located in the famous Puerto Banus, which is a luxurious place to go shopping, where you can find many types of Christmas decorations, and stylish gift ideas for Papa Noel or the 3 kings, from clothing to accessories for all ages and gender. The World famous Puerto Banus is the place to be pampered yachtside and watch the world go by or window shop at one of several of the world renowned fashion houses and boutiques and for the Christmas season, they open a “Mercado de Navidad”, situated in Plaza Antonio Banderas with wood cabins, a skating park and activities to enjoy with the whole family, from the 19th of December until the 6th of January. In Banus you can also have fun in a casino, art galleries, marine observatory and a multi cinema with films shown in their original language.
On the other hand, Chirstmas in Marbella is known for its traditional “Mercadillos” (street markets), that are a great place to find gifts for your loved ones plus decorations for the house that we can spot every once in a while in different parts of the city. We start the Christmas season, with the Caritas mercadillo, followed by el mercadillo de la Virginia and terrazas de Puerto Deportivo from the 21st of December until the 5th of January.
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Merry Christmas!