Christmas day lunch @ HelloBCN hostel

Christmas lunch at the hostel!! Staff and clients joined together, creating a great enviroment. We ate roast chicken, tortilla and other typical Spanish tapas. A great day!

Fira de Santa Llucia

Barcelona has already turned on it's Christmas lights and the festive spirit has hit the streets.

One of my favourite things about Christmas in Barcelona is heading down to the Fira de Santa Llucia to buy a Christmas tree... Don't forget to check out these markets!

Fira de Santa Llucia

Dating from 1786, the Fira de Santa Llucia is a Christmas fair held every December outside Barcelona Cathedral. Around 300 market stalls sell seasonal goodies, while nativity scenes, musical parades and exhibitions add to the fun.

Another activity at the Fira de Santa Llucia is the giant caga tió, a huge, smiley-faced "log" that drops out presents when kids beat it with a stick.

The caga tió is a character in Catalan mythology relating to Christmas tradition and many families keep one in their homes during the festive season (small versions are on sale at the Fira de Santa Llucia's market). Beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December, children give the tió something to "eat" every day and cover him with a blanket to keep him warm at night. On Christmas day the log is put in the fireplace and children beat it with sticks while singing traditional songs. Much like a Mexican piñanta, the log then drops out sweets, nuts, dried figs and Turrón (a Spanish nougat). When nothing is left, the exhausted caga tió drops a salt herring to indicate it has finished bearing gifts. Strange but true.

When: 29 Nov - 23 Dec 2008 (annual)
Where: Barcelona Cathedral

Cost: Free
Opening Hours: Daily 10am-10pm

Merry Christmas to all of us here at HelloBCN Hostel...

Christmas in Barcelona

Christmas is almost here... Hard to believe that we are coming to the end of another year. For some it's a time to take a break and celebrate all the good things (and perhaps work on forgetting about the bad things) that 2008 has brought us. Here at HelloBCN Hostel, we're getting ready for all the festive spirits that will pass through our door.

Traditionally in Spain Christmas is celebrated on the Christmas Eve (24th of December), however here in Catalonia Christmas is generally celebrated on the 25th of December.

We are inviting all guests who will be staying with us on the night of the 25th of December to join us for lunch. For those of you who will be away from your loved ones during the festive season, we want to invite you to celebrate with the HelloBCN family!!!

Reserve now at www.hellobcnhostel.com