December: Christmas, Catalan style
December closes the year with the Santa Llúcia market by the cathedral, the monumental nativity in plaça Sant Jaume, Sant Esteve the day after Christmas, and the easiest New Year's Eve in the Mediterranean.
Fira de Santa Llúcia, until the 23rd
The city's oldest Christmas market, in front of the cathedral: four weeks of tree, nativity, caganer and turron stalls. Postcard atmosphere and last-minute shopping.
Nadal and Sant Esteve
Catalan Christmas has two big days: the 25th with escudellà soup and galets pasta, and the 26th, Sant Esteve, with cannelloni. Many shops close both: plan around it.
New Year's Eve
Catalunya square and the promenade full of people with grapes and cava: the Barcelona NYE is informal and massive, with neighborhood parties after — and the bravest start the year with the Sant Joan-style beach swim.