CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN BENIDORM

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN BENIDORM

Christmas and New year are special times here in Benidorm, there is always lots going on for both children and adults.

There is lots of live entertainment in town.   To find out who is performing When and Where use the Whats On Guide, which is updated on a daily basis.

Hotels Recommended for Christmas and New Year

Find Special menus for Christmas and New Year HERE - Please note these are not generally published until quite late in the year.

Children can enjoy Christmas Holidays in Benidorm, there are lots of special activities provided, see below.

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Christmas and New Year in Benidorm 

Confirmed events for Christmas 2022 from 3rd December to 8th January 2023

3rd December - Christmas lights to be turned on and the inauguration of Christmas Square 18.00 

The Plaza de Sus Majestades los Reyes de España will be transformed into a typical Christmas scene

There will also be a show children's show in the Plaza de la Navidad. 

The official program of Christmas events for this year should be available in the next few days.

The Ice Rink - The rink is usually open in the mornings until 14.00 then again in the afternoons from 17.00 until late, mornings are the quieter sessions but its prettier in the evenings with all the lights!  Boot Hire is available and included in the hourly price - Please wear long trousers and gloves or you won't be permitted to skate.

Christmas market - Elche Park - From Saturday December 3rd to Thursday, January 8th

Nativity scenes of Benidorm

From Saturday December 3rd to Friday, January 6th, 2023 Monumental Bethlehem in Plaza S.S.M.M. The Kings of Spain, 1.

Traditional Nativity scene made by the Association Marina Baixa nativity scene in the Hall of the townhall, Plaza S.S.M.M. The Kings of Spain, 1.

Bethlehem ACR La Barqueta at Calle Tomás Ortuño 62

Bethlehem House of Andalusia in C/ Mercurio Nº4

Visit Santa

From Saturday December 3rd to Friday, January th6, 2023 With the visit of Santa Claus 17,18,19,20,21 and 22 only in the afternoon. 23rd morning and afternoon and 24th morning only.

CHRISTMAS HOUSE and WONDERFUL NATIVITY SCENE At Casa- Museo Hort de Colón

House-Museum l'Hort de Colón. House of Christmas from Saturday December 3rd to Thursday, January 8th, 2022

Visit the 3 wise men

From December 28th until January 4th Garden in front of the Town Hall. Camp of SS.MM. 

Schedule of Events

Sunday, December 4th - 18:00 Children's Performances Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

Thursday, December 8th - 18:00 Inauguration of the Bethlehem of the A.C.R. The Barqueta. C/ Tomás Ortuño 62.

Friday, December 9th -18:00 Inauguration of the Bethlehem of the House of Andalusia. C / Mercurio No. 4.

Saturday, December 10th - 18:00 Presentation of the CD the “Magi Kings” Suite by Mr. Francisco José Rovira Peretó. Musical Society "La Nova" of Benidorm Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

Sunday, December 11th - 18:00 p.m. Children's Performances Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

18th December The XII San Silvestre Christmas Run

Sunday, December 18th - 18:00. Performance by Mag Malastruc Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

Tuesday, December 20th - 18:00 Pilar Segura Dance Studio Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

Wednesday, December 21st -18:00 Paqui Mora Dance Studio Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

December 21st – Hogueras, which literally translates to ‘bonfires. During this celebration, the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) is celebrated. A typical event which takes place is people jumping over fires to protect themselves from illness in the upcoming year.

Christmas and New Year in Benidorm 

Thursday, December 22nd - 18:00 Boogie Block Dance Studio Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

Friday, December 23rd - 18:00 Children's Performances Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

Saturday, December 24th Comissió Pre-Good Party of Festes Majors Patronals 2023. Pl.SS.MM. Kings of Spain.

December 24th Christmas Eve – In Spain, Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena and marks the most important family meeting of the year. People usually spend the late afternoons and early evening with friends for a few drinks and tapas, then head back home to enjoy a nice family dinner. After their evening meal, the whole family will go to church for the traditional midnight Mass or “Misa Del Gallo”, which in a devoutly Roman Catholic country is much more than a ‘Carol Service’ event and holds great significance as an important part of Christmas.

December 25th – Christmas Day is celebrated as a national holiday in Spain, so all the shops are closed. This day is not celebrated as the typical ¨day for presents¨ as that day occurs on the 6th of January when the Three Kings bring the presents for the children, but more of a day to relax and spend time with families. There is typically a big lunchtime meal with the family and friends.

December 28th –The day of Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents) is celebrated much like another Western holiday, April Fool’s Day. This holiday finds children and adults playing practical jokes on each other. This is a fun day to run wild and play some pranks on your friends and family.

Christmas and New Year in Benidorm 

NEW YEAR 

December 31st - New Year's Eve

New Years Eve in Benidorm - Benidorm says goodbye to 2022 from Paseo de Levante with music and fireworks.

The organisers of the event are Benidorm Town Hall and Ociobal and Abreca associations.

The party will begin at 18.00 and last until 01.30 with performances by 3 local DJS and national and international entertainment, the main stage will be located at Bilboa Avenue,  Paseo de Levante, (towards the old town)

The main events will be the bells at midnight from Madrid's Puerta del Sol, followed by a large firework display to welcome 2023.  Grapes etc will be provided to help bring in the new year in the traditional Spanish fashion, at 01.00 the party will connect with British TV to follow the bells from Lonjdon's Big Ben.

To give maximum coverage to the bells and scheduled performances, 6 LED screens will be located, one on the stage at Avd Bilbao and 5 more along the Levante Promenade.

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend.

As in previous years the speakers will be directed out to sea to try as little as possible not to disturb neighbours and residents.

New Year’s Eve is called Noche Vieja (old night). The party stays at home for many until midnight, as it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes, one at each chime of the clock. Tradition has it that anyone who manages all 12 grapes, without choking, will have 12 months of prosperity – it’s not as easy as it sounds, but it’s fun to have a go! After the grapes and Cava, the party begins and goes on well into the next morning.

Another other strange tradition in Spain during New Years is to wear red underwear.

The red underwear should be given to you and is to be worn on New Year´s Eve; this is to bring good luck for the upcoming 12 months. All over the shopping centres, markets, and stores you will find red underwear being sold before New Year’s. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages when it was prohibited to wear red as it was associated with witchcraft, the devil and blood. However, the people would instead wear red underwear that couldn’t be seen as they believed that red was a symbol of life especially during the dark winter months.

Sunday, January 1st - 19:00 New Year's concert by of the Orchestra of the Musical Union from Benidorm with Marlene Aquino. Auditorium of the Cultural Center.

BENIDORM´S NEW YEARS DAY - January 1st– This public holiday is generally reserved for recuperating from the festivities from the night before. Most shops are closed, and people tend to stay at home and recover.

January 5th 

There are parades and processions throughout Spain during the evening where participants receive sweets and candies thrown from the floats. After all the excitement outdoors, and just before going to bed, children traditionally leave their shoes out (not their stockings here!) so that the Three Kings can leave gifts – just as they did with the infant Jesus.

January 5th

The Three Kings parade 18.00    

The parade will leave at around 18.00 from Parque de Elche (Dove Park) winding around the streets of Avenue of Los Almendros,  Calle Marte, Calle Venus, Calle Ruzafa and Herreriias, finishing at the Julio Iglesias auditorium, where there will be multimedia show and fireworks and the traditional distribution of gifts takes place.

The Auditorium will be open from 17.30, entry is FREE

January 6th –This date marks the Feast of the Epiphany, which is when the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem. Much like Christmas Day around the rest of the world, this is the most important day for Spanish children. In the morning, they will awake to find that Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings) have brought them gifts. Families typically start the day on 6th January with a huge breakfast that includes a large, ring-shaped cake called “Roscon de los Reyes”. The traditional sweet treat comes with dried fruits and two surprises hidden inside – the person who finds the ‘prize’ becomes King or Queen for the day, while whoever finds the unlucky ‘bean’ pays for next year’s cake!

FIND SPECIAL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MENUS HERE

THE WEATHER

Please Note all these temperatures are taken in the SHADE as all Spanish weather forecasts are.

WINTER STARTS 21st