Christmas Under the Sun in Sitges
The best summary of what we're going to explain in the following lines is that Sitges is an excellent place to spend the Christmas holidays. It has to be so that, as we mentioned, the sun and good weather come along every year. In addition, when the sun gives way to the moon, Sitges lights up for the occasion. Plus, this year, in an effort to be more sustainable, the Christmas lights will be turned off at 12 midnight and will be reinforced with reflective decorations, which don't consume electricity.
And since we've already started talking about decoration, remember that Sitges' own shopping options, open from Monday to Sunday and characterized by a singular, unique and specialized assortment, have been joined, for the past six years now, by the Winter Market. This is a Christmas market featuring artisanal and handmade (and 'heartmade') products that takes place on December 17th and 18th at the foot of the Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla Parish Church, in front of La Fragata Beach, so we're talking about shopping with a view. And what a view... In all, this Christmas market brings together more than 50 artists and creators, including illustrators, ceramists, photographers, jewelers...
Very close to the Winter Market, on the Passeig de la Ribera seaside promenade and next to the Club de Mar, different stalls complete the range of high-quality handicrafts on offer.
More reasons (or excuses or incentives) to come to Sitges at Christmas are all the traditional events. A good example is the exhibition of nativity dioramas at the Palau del Rei Moro. We’re referring to an exhibition that has been going on for 32 years now... so there’s got to be something to it.
Another Christmas classic in Sitges -and all over Catalonia- is the performance of 'Els Pastorets', staged at the Casino Prado Suburense, where shepherds bring order (and humor) to the struggle between good and evil. The 'Cant de la Sibil-la' is also a classic, at the Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla Parish Church, where at midnight on December 24th the Christmas apocalypse -don't panic- is announced.
And then of course there are Their Majesties The Three Wise Men of the East, who on the night of January 5th will spark the excitement of the little ones. Important: if you can and are in Sitges, on January 3rd and 4th, your sons or daughters, nephews or nieces, grandsons or granddaughters, godsons or goddaughters can hand in their letters to the royal pages along a magical route set up at the Mercat Vell (Old Market) in Sitges.
Another main meeting point for families during these dates is the Parc de Nadal (Christmas Park), in the Pins Vens Sports Center, open from December 27th to January 5th. There you will find a space for the little ones to play and have fun. There are also different recreational spaces for people who aren't so young, who can participate in the sessions of Quinto -a traditional Catalan game, very similar to bingo- held by organizations such as the Casino Prado, El Retiro or l'Agrupació de Balls Populars.
And if you're going to ring in the new year in Sitges -an amazing plan- a good way to wake up and get active -not only for that day, but for the entire year of 2023- is to join the group of brave people who on January 1st will be diving into the sea at Sant Sebastià Beach. The rendezvous is at 12 noon, so that the sun, always present, watches and warms you up a bit from up above.
To this particular Christmas offering, you know that you can also add the permanent options we have in Sitges: walks along any of our beaches, enjoying the local cuisine and typical dishes, including xató salad or Sitgetan rice, sipping some Sitges Malvasia wine with views of the Mediterranean -that pairing is unbeatable-, discovering (or rediscovering) our old town and its Modernista gems in the form of museums and palaces, or hiking around the natural marvel that is the Garraf Park.