For those used to a traditional British Christmas, the festive season on Lanzarote offers a wonderfully different experience, blending Spanish customs with unique Canarian charm. The celebrations here are a long, vibrant affair, stretching from late December into the first week of January, and for visitors, it’s a fascinating time to be on the island.
The magic begins in earnest with ‘El Gordo’ (The Fat One), the Spanish Christmas lottery on December 22nd. It’s a national event where almost everyone buys a ticket or a share, hoping for a life-changing win. The winning numbers are famously chanted on television by schoolchildren, a unique and eagerly anticipated spectacle.
The real celebrations, however, start on Nochebuena, Christmas Eve. This is when families gather for a lavish and heartfelt meal. Supermarkets are filled with bags of fresh mussels, the traditional starter, followed by a main course that might be turkey with truffles or, more locally, a magnificent fish or seafood medley. The table is laden with exquisite sweets like nougat and turrón before many head to midnight mass.
While the 25th was traditionally a day of quiet reflection, you’ll now see children enjoying new toys as some families have adopted the custom of giving gifts on Christmas Day.
Don’t forget, however, that the 26th is a normal working day here; Boxing Day sales are not part of the local calendar.
Watch out instead for December 28th, Día de los Santos Inocentes, which is Spain’s version of April Fool’s Day, so be prepared for playful pranks and silly news stories!
The next big event is Nochevieja, New Year’s Eve. This is a night for partying with friends over a fabulous meal, timed to finish at midnight for the crucial tradition: eating twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock, to secure good luck for each month ahead. If Arrecife seems eerily quiet at 11 pm, just wait. Minutes after midnight, the streets erupt with fireworks, music, and crowds of impeccably dressed locals in suits and ballgowns moving from bar to bar.
The festive period culminates on January 5th with the arrival of the Three Kings, who parade through every town on camels, distributing sweets and joy to children. That night, families share a Roscón de Reyes, a cream-filled cake hiding a lucky trinket and a bean. The finder of the trinket is crowned king for the day, while the one who gets the bean pays for next year’s cake!
January 6th, Three Kings’ Day, is the day children here traditionally receive their main presents, marking the beautiful, bustling heart of a Canarian Christmas before the decorations finally come down.
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