Why come to Madrid at Christmas?
Madrid is an exciting city, with a lot of movement and action, with a more than ample offer in all aspects, the gastronomic, Madrid at Christmas, although it may seem impossible, is more lively than ever and despite the winter, it is full of light and warmth.
The city is brimming with joy and there is a magical festive atmosphere. People take to the streets to stroll, to admire the beautiful christmas decoration with millions of colored light bulbs on buildings and avenues, the designer trees, or the beautiful, and some gigantic, Nativity scenes.
Retailers make great promotions and both locals and visitors, we go shopping in the many Christmas markets such as the traditional one in the Plaza Mayor, which continue year after year with the sale of trees, figurines for the Nativity Scene, Christmas decorations or cotillion for the New Year's Eve party.
On these dates we went out for tapas singing Christmas carols and the zambomba, especially on December 24 and 31 before the celebration at home with family members. When you go into a bar, we are all friends, we sing, some of us dance and make toasts for a better new year for everyone. It's all good vibes and great wishes.
It is typical to go for a warm cup of hot chocolate with our famous churros and porras (a type of fried dough) that are delicious, or the rich Epiphany cake with the illusion that you get the gift and not the bean, because then you have to pay for the roscón! 
At this time of the year Madrid offers you a great and varied offer of musicals, plays, concerts, museum exhibitions, children's activities and the restaurants prepare christmas menus very appetizing with typical dishes of this time of the year.
If you prefer to leave the city, Madrid has two ski resorts only 40 minutes away, where snow awaits lovers of this sport, and if you do not practice it, to enjoy sledding, snowshoeing, or a simple walk to admire the wonderful Sierra de Guadarrama, make a snowman and take a warm broth.
There is a trad
ition in Spain in the New Year's Eve, which is very peculiar and fun. All Spaniards prepare a bag with 12 grapes Each one, and only a few minutes before the end of the year, we sit in front of the TV, where the chimes are transmitted from the Puerta de Sol in Madrid, where there is a clock placed in a pavilion above the Casa de Correos. It was inaugurated in 1866 by Queen Isabel II on the occasion of her birthday and after a century and a half it is still working in perfect condition.
This ritual is to say goodbye to the year. It consists of making a wish and it will be fulfilled if you are able to eat the 12 grapes to the rhythm of the 12 chimes during the last seconds of the year. A feat, since they go fast and more than one of them has had a bad luck, after the last bell we all embrace each other and wish with all our hearts that the new year will be better and that some of our wishes will come true.
On January 5, the Epiphany night, the most magical time of the year, especially for the little ones, takes place at the the great parade, A display of floats, jugglers, musicians, dancers, costumed characters, balloons, music, and lots of color, which pass through the main streets of Madrid so that children can see their beloved 3 kings, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, who come from the east following the star that guides them to the newborn Messiah. On their way they will leave them, during their sweet dreams, some of the gifts they have asked for in their letters, thousands of candies fly through the air and we are all happy to see so many smiles and eyes illuminated by emotion and illusion.
These are the Christmas in Madrid, In Spain, don't you feel like joining us?
Check out our Gourmet route this Christmas in Madrid from December 30th. https://www.culinaryspain.com/rutas-gastronomicas/fin-de-ano-gourmet-en-madrid/
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