¡Felices Fiestas! Christmas 2025/26 in pictures

Christmas in the pueblo is very different to what I remember about Christmas in England. It's about family, primarily, but the Nativity itself isn't forgotten. There isn't the same orgy of consumerism beginning in September, as most people don't start shopping until well into December.  Although Papa Noel is a bigger presence than he was twenty years ago, it's the three wise men, los Reyes, who bring the main gifts on 5 January. People gather in the street for zambombas, meeting old friends who have come home for Christmas and enjoying flamenco carols you can sing along with and dance to. The stress of one person cooking a meal for twelve people on the Big Day making sure everything is hot at the same time just doesn't happen, because different family members bring contributions to the Nochebuena and Nochevieja dinners, which take three hours to eat rather than twenty minutes - then after midnight the younger generation heads for a big party organised by the town hall which goes on till 6 a.m. 

The Christmas season here begins on 6 December, a public holiday to celebrate the 1978 Constitution, and ends on 6 January (Epiphany), also a public holiday. 

The turning on of the Christmas lights on the Alameda was this year accompanied by a snowstorm and a live band. (Sadly the fake snow was quickly replaced by real rain, which became a feature of the entire season.)

The Paseo decorations included a giant teddy bear, the orange trees were, as usual, wrapped up in knitted overcoats and a variety of knitted and crocheted decorations adorned the town.

Local businesses persuaded people to do their Christmas shopping in town by offering prizes.

The Alcalá youth orchestra gave a concert of Christmassy music, with the conductor somehow managing not to fall off the stage.

All the local schools participated in a morning of Christmas songs in the parish church, and the English students from the adult education centre gave a fine rendition of the traditional Sussex Carol.

Children, as always, are well catered for during the holidays.  This year they had the opportunity to present Papa Noel with their wish-lists in the castle.

Winners of the schools' home-made Christmas card competition were displayed at the entrance to the town hall.

Older people were also well catered for, with a grand "merienda" (tea-party) - plenty of home-made Christmas pastries like buñuelos and pestiños and a live band for those inspired to dance.

Several events had to be cancelled because of rain, which fell more or less continuously throughout the holidays (apart from Christmas Day, which most people sleep through anyway due to the excesses of Nochebuena ...)

The pre-New Year's Eve spectacle on the Plaza Alta was another victim of the weather.

Fortunately the main event, the arrival of the Three Kings, was not affected by the rain - even near-zero temperatures didn't put off the crowds. Their majesties arrived by helicopter rather than camels.