Last week we looked at the Danish royal family and how they celebrate the holiday season. Like many Scandinavian families, St. Lucia’s Day is a highlight for them. The Spanish royal family has a very different holiday season, though. King Felipe VI of Spain, of the House of Bourbon-Anjou, inherited the throne upon his father’s abdication in 2014. Felipe, his wife Letizia, and his two daughters are a close-knit family, and that is echoed in their Christmas celebrations. For a much warmer holiday season than many of us are used to, let’s get into Royal Christmas in Spain!
Who are the Spanish Royals?
In case you have not kept up with the European royals, the Spanish royal family has attracted quite a bit of attention in recent decades. King Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014 after his daughter was embroiled in a corruption controversy and a very problematic hunting trip. (This was not the first issue for Juan Carlos…) Felipe inherited a divided Spain and there is a strong movement for Catalonian independence, currently a part of the kingdom.
Felipe married Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano in 2004, and they have two daughters. Leonor, Princess of Asturias is the heir to the throne (the Spanish title for Crown Princess) and Infanta Sofia is her younger sister. As one might expect, the Spanish royal family is Roman Catholic.
Christmas Eve
Like in many Catholic countries, Christmas Eve is the crucial piece of Spanish Christmas celebrations. The entire royal family enjoys a dinner together at the Palace of Zarzuela. It has several courses, including appetisers, known as entremeses, seafood, and cochinillo, a roast suckling pig. They attend a midnight Mass at Church to celebrate the holiday, a staple event for most Catholics.
A Christmas Eve Speech
Each monarch has a slightly different tradition for addressing their subjects at the holidays. The Spanish monarch shares their speech on Christmas Eve; it is pre-recorded but airs at 9pm on Christmas Eve on national television. Felipe’s speech marks the start of Christmas, so it is a major event in the royal household.
A Calmer Christmas Day
Because Christmas Eve is the heart of Christmas celebrations in Spain, Christmas Day is calmer. However, The Queen’s family is invited to the palace on the 25th so that she is able to celebrate with them, as well.
Epiphany
For children in Spain, Epiphany is the really important day. On the eve of Epiphany (the evening of 5 January, Epiphany is 6 January), children will receive the majority of their holiday presents. (It would also be the most important day for me if I was a child, just saying…) Historically, Epiphany has been a key part of holiday celebrations, though it has somewhat fallen back in popularity.
6 January is also the birthday of King Juan Carlos but given that he is in exile and in a not-so-favourable position with the public, we no longer see any big public celebrations marking it.
Would you enjoy celebrating royal Christmas in Spain?
Cheers,
The Historian
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