During the Christmas holidays, the tradition of performing the Pastorets (Christmas plays) remains alive in most towns and neighborhoods of Catalonia. They draw thousands of theatergoers and thousands of families as spectators.
The Pastorets are one of the most deeply rooted Christmas traditions in our country. They are a theatrical piece, and their natural place of performance is on a stage. The basis of the performance is a theatrical text inspired by the Gospel account of Christmas, often written in verse and with a well-defined dramatic structure. These texts incorporate many different artistic elements that complement their structure and present them to the viewer as a complete spectacle. Music, dance, special effects, and elaborate sets are used in specific doses, giving personality to each of the performances you will experience during the Christmas season in Catalonia.
In current times, these performances are a meeting point for the diverse generations and backgrounds that make up our society; they are constantly transforming and are fed by new contributions year after year.
Staging a Pastorets is a common project of a town, an entity or a group that temporarily comes together for this purpose.
This Christmas, discover the Pastorets in Catalonia!
When do the Christmas holidays fall in 2026?
The most important Christmas celebrations in Catalonia are:
Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24, 2026)
Christmas Eve is one of the most cherished evenings of the year. In Catalonia, this night is especially celebrated with the tradition of the Caga Tió, where children hit a log with sticks while singing songs so that the Tió "poops" out sweets and gifts.
It's a tradition that fills homes with laughter, excitement, and Christmas spirit. Families usually gather to share a hearty dinner, often featuring traditional dishes like escudella and carne de olla.
Christmas Day (Friday, December 25, 2026)
Christmas Day is the heart of the Christmas celebrations. Families gather to enjoy a festive meal that typically includes " escudella con galets " (a traditional Catalan stew) and a roast chicken or stuffed capon, accompanied by nougat and wafers. It is a day dedicated to sharing special moments with loved ones, exchanging gifts, and keeping cherished traditions alive.
Saint Stephen's Day (Saturday, December 26, 2026)
Saint Stephen 's Day, unique to Catalonia, is a much-loved day that offers the opportunity to continue sharing moments with family. The quintessential dish for this day is cannelloni, traditionally made with leftovers from the previous day's roast. This day symbolizes the continuation of the Christmas celebrations and allows the festive spirit to linger.
New Year's Eve (Thursday, December 31, 2026)
New Year's Eve is the last big party of the year. Families and friends gather to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one with large dinners, toasts with sparkling wine, and the traditional twelve grapes, which are eaten to the rhythm of the midnight chimes to bring good luck for the next twelve months. The party continues with dancing, music, and celebrations until the early hours of the morning.
Start of the New Year (Friday, January 1, 2027)
The first day of the year, New Year's Day, is characterized as a day of rest and reflection. After the festivities of the previous night, families take this day to relax, enjoying a more leisurely meal. It's a time to recharge and start the year with renewed purpose and positive energy.
Three Kings Parade (Tuesday, January 5, 2027)
The eve of Three Kings' Day is one of the most eagerly awaited days for children. The Three Kings' Day parades, full of lights, music, and spectacle, fill the streets of every town in Catalonia with the arrival of Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar. Children excitedly await the moment to see the floats go by, throw letters with their wishes, and collect sweets as the anticipation builds.
Three Kings Day (Wednesday, January 6, 2027)
Three Kings' Day marks the end of the Christmas festivities. After the magical night when the Three Wise Men left gifts in homes, families gather for breakfast to enjoy the traditional Three Kings' Cake, which hides a bean and a small figurine. Whoever finds the figurine is crowned king of the celebration, while whoever finds the bean must pay for the cake the following year. This day joyfully closes the cycle of festivities until the next year.
Events
December 26, Saint Stephen's Day
26 DecemberIf December 25th is the heart of Christmas, December 26th, Boxing Day, is the more familiar and genuinely Catalan continuation. It's a unique day that reflects the Catalan Christmas spirit: reuniting, sharing a table, and extending the warmth…
December 25, Christmas
25 DecemberDecember 25th is Christmas, one of the most important and beloved holidays in Catalonia and around the world. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, according to Christian tradition. But beyond its religious origins,…
Els Pastorets de la Joventut de la Faràndula - Sabadell
From 19 to 20 December …Imagine a winter night where the magic of Christmas fills the stage, transporting you to a world brimming with fantasy and tradition. Els Pastorets de la Joventut de la Faràndula is more than just a play; it's an experience that blends…
Finished
Pastorets of Sidamon
5 JanuaryCome and see and enjoy the Pastorets de Sidamon, an experience full of magic and tradition! During the Christmas holidays, the tradition of performing the Pastorets is still very much alive in most towns and neighbourhoods in Catalonia, becoming…
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Edition 2025
Els Pastorets in Campllong
From 27 to 28 December 2025Come and enjoy els Pastorets in Campllong! During the Christmas holidays, the tradition of performing Els Pastorets remains alive in most towns and villages of Catalonia. In Campllong, the villagers perform an adaptation of Els Pastorets by…
Edition 2025
The Pastorets of l'Ametlla de Merola
26 December 2025 …The Pastorets de l'Ametlla de Merola (Puig-reig) are back! Talking about l'Ametlla de Merola and not talking about the Pastorets is becoming more and more difficult, they are like two close friends who do not know and cannot go anywhere without…
Edition 2025
Els Pastorets principals de Valls
26 December 2025 …Els Pastorets principals de Valls return, faithful to tradition, with the unforgettable characters of Garrafó and Fredolic and the shepherdesses Mariana and Sulina. This Christmas performance, aimed at family audiences, combines biblical…
Edition 2025
The Pastorets of Molinos de Rei
26 December 2025 …“Els Pastorets” by Frederic Soler “Pitarra” and with music by maestro Miquel Blanch continue to be performed at La Peni Plaza Mercè Rodoreda in Molins de Rei. The performance is divided into two acts, the first…
Edition 2025
Els Pastorets in Guissona
26 December 2025Next Friday, December 26, 2025, at 7 p.m., the Ateneo Municipal Theatre of Guissona will once again be filled with light, humor and emotion with a new performance of Els Pastorets del Centro, a heartwarming production that has become an essential…
Edition 2025
The Pastorets of l'Espluga de Francolí
25 December 2025 …If you haven't seen Francolí's Pastorets de l'Espluga yet... you're taking too long! They've been part of the town's living tradition since the late 19th century, and since 1976 they've grown in the Casal theater year after year, with…
Edition 2025
Els Pastorets de Capellades - "L'Estel de Natzaret"
25 December 2025 …The magic of Els Pastorets is back in Capellades! Following last year's success, La Liga raises the curtain once again to offer us a new and spectacular edition of Els Pastorets - La Estrella de Nazaret, a production that combines tradition,…
Edition 2025
Els Pastorets de Berga
25 December 2025 …When the December chill arrives and the first mists begin to drift across the Berguedà region, Berga prepares for one of its most beloved and deeply rooted Christmas traditions: Els Pastorets de Berga. This performance, presented by…
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Edition 2025
Els Pastorets of Mataró
21 December 2025 …Els Pastorets of Mataró are back for another year! A large-format musical show with all the ingredients: live orchestra and singing, dancing, spectacular changes of scenery, good and bad characters, dramatic and comic characters, special…
Edition 2025
The Pastorets of Santa Perpètua de Mogoda
21 December 2025 …The Pastorets of Josep M. Folch y Torres are back in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, carried out by the youngest of the Tàndem theater group! For more than 50 years, the Pastorets have been celebrated year after year, without rest,…
Edition 2025
The Pastorets of Ulldecona
21 December 2025 …The Pastorets of Ulldecona are back for another year! In 1981, this show, dedicated mainly to children, was put on for the first time and belongs to the Costumari Català of the Christmas festivities. Around 50 actors and actresses, both…
Edition 2025
Els Pastorets in Balaguer
From 20 to 21 December 2025Come experience the performance of Els Pastorets by Josep Maria Folch i Torres in Balaguer! Who isn't familiar with Josep Maria Folch i Torres's *Les Pastoretes*? Almost everyone has seen it performed on stage or even participated in it. However,…
Edition 2025
Christmas and Winter Festival of Pla de Santa Maria
14 December 2025 …Pla de Santa Maria celebrates the Christmas festivities together with the Winter Festival with a wide program suitable for all tastes. The festivities are packed with activities designed for all ages: music, culture, family events, religious…
Edition 2025
Christmas events in Solsona
From 5 to 8 December 2025 …Celebrate these Christmas holidays in Solsona! During December and January, the Christmas spirit fills every corner of the city, with Christmas lights illuminating squares and streets. The streets and squares of towns and cities are filled…
Edition 2025
Experience Christmas in Puig-Reig!
4 December 2025 …Puig-reig is all set to experience a Christmas full of events! The Puig-Reig Town Council, with the support of other organizations and groups, has prepared a program of events for all ages to liven up the Christmas season. This initiative aims…
Edition 2025
Live Christmas in Sentmenat!
3 December 2025 …Sentmenat celebrates a magical and much-anticipated Christmas festival! The municipality has designed a program intended for all ages, where culture, family workshops, shows, music and the most deeply rooted Christmas celebrations coexist.…
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Finished
Live Christmas in Lliçà d'Amunt!
From 1 December 2025 to 7 JanuaryLive Christmas in Lliçà d'Amunt! The year is ending, but before it comes to a close, let yourself be wrapped in the best gift paper: the magic of Christmas! The Christmas holidays are a unique opportunity to share moments of happiness,…
Edition 2025
Experience Christmas in Cubelles!
30 November 2025 …Experience Christmas in Cubelles! Christmas in Catalonia is a special time, full of traditions, festivities, and a wide range of activities that reflect its rich culture and identity. Cubelles celebrates with a diverse and extensive program…
Edition 2025
Santa Perpètua de Mogoda is Christmas
29 November 2025 …Santa Perpètua de Mogoda is Christmas! The Santa Perpètua de Mogoda City Council organizes a program with more than twenty proposals for the Christmas season. The lighting of the lights will kick off, and there will also be no…
Edition 2023
Els Pastorets de Súria
25 December 2023 …One more year Els Pastorets de Súria returns! The Christmas tradition of Els Pastorets de Súria begins at the end of the 19th century. They are notable for their fidelity to the text by Josep Maria Folch i Torres, the performance…
Edition 2021
The Pastorets of Balsareny
25 December 2021 …The Pastorets of always, now renewed to make them more agile respecting the essence: with angels and demons, shepherds and shepherds, in Jeremiah with his donkey and our little Dancers. A traditional and fun, family show, both suitable for…
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