Christmas in Majorca

Why should I visit Mallorca at Christmas?

Did you think that Mallorca was only a summer destination? Visit the island during the festive season and you'll discover something completely different. With the hordes of tourists gone, the island is a much calmer place, and this is the perfect time to discover Mallorcan Christmas traditions. If you're interested in cultural tourism, there's no better time to come. Check out holiday lettings in Mallorca and add a Mediterranean twist to your festive cheer.

Is Mallorca a good destination for the family at Christmas?

Yes, it definitely is. Mallorca at Christmas has plenty to delight young and old, making it an ideal destination for family holidays in Mallorca. At night, the city of Palma is all lit up, and appears quite magical. Ice skating rinks allow the whole family to let their hair down, while grown-ups will delight in the Christmas markets, the perfect place to pick up gifts and souvenirs.

Nativity scenes

Wander around any town or city street during Christmas in Mallorca and you'll see a nativity scene in every shop window. Known locally as betlems, they are usually on display throughout December, until the 6th of January. Families often go on walking routes specifically to see the betlems, which can be enormously creative. Some are traditional, while others are modern, using fun materials like Playmobil or Lego. A local Mallorcan tradition dictates that the figure of a friar needs to be hidden somewhere in each nativity scene. Can you spot them?

Christmas dinner

Forget the turkey and stuffing. If you want to prepare a true Balearic Christmas feast in your finca in Mallorca, you'll need a suckling pig. This is the main course for the local Christmas dinner, after a starter of sopa de galets, a heavily-flavoured broth dotted with mince-stuffed pasta shells. Don't fancy cooking? No problem. In the festive season, many restaurants put on a special Christmas menu serving these favourites. On Christmas Eve, join in with a sweeter culinary tradition. Locals will indulge in a mug of thick hot chocolate served with ensaïmada, a sugar-dusted Mallorcan pastry that's perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. The most popular spot in Palma for these pastries is Can Joan de s'Aigo, which always has massive queues on the 24th of December.

New Year's Eve

If you're spending New Year's Eve in Mallorca, there's one tradition you can't miss. Like people across Spain, Mallorcans celebrate the new year with 12 grapes. When the clock strikes midnight, you should try to eat one grape in time with each chime. You'll get a month of good luck for each grape that you manage to swallow in time!

Three Kings' Day

In early January, you might expect the Christmas decorations to disappear. Nope! In Mallorca, the Christmas fun continues until the 6th of January, the Three Kings' Day. On the afternoon of the 5th, an enormous parade takes place in the centre of Palma and other cities. The Three Kings ride through the streets in enormous, elaborate floats, accompanied by dancers, musicians and sometimes even animals. As they pass, they throw sweets at the watching children. The parade in Palma is the biggest in Mallorca, starting at the port where the kings step ceremoniously off a boat before climbing onto their floats. Traditionally, the kings play the part of Santa, and kids will open their presents on the morning of the 6th, while families eat a roscón de reyes, a delicious cream-filled pastry.