How is Andorran Christmas celebrated? This small country is home to Christmas traditions that will surprise you!

Where else could you imagine a more fairy-tale Christmas atmosphere better than in a picturesque principality nestled in the middle of the Pyrenees?

Today, we will explore the classic Andorran Christmas traditions, which involve log fires and scavenging. There will be no shortage of surprises!

Afterward, we will walk through the most beautiful Christmas markets and visit Father Christmas.

We will introduce you to Adorno gastronomy and with it a festive table on which we will prepare the thick national soup of Escudella.

This winter kingdom is imbued with a surreal atmosphere; if you have ever wondered how Christmas is celebrated in Andorra, if at all, you will find out that this tiny European country is their home.

When and how is Christmas celebrated in Andorra?

Christmas in Andorra is celebrated in the same way as here. Therefore, it falls on December 24, when Christmas Eve occurs, culminating in a midnight mass. But before we rush to the set table, we will visit the local markets, which breathe the atmosphere of Advent.

Christmas markets are typical for Andorra and are held in almost all cities. Probably the most famous place of their course is La Massana, a mountain town which, with the Christmas spirit, transforms into a place full of wooden houses, crafts, outstanding gastronomy, and a giant ice rink, on which especially children go.

Christmas markets take place in the capital of Andorra la Vella throughout December. Under the promise of Christmas, it will be transformed into a fantastic destination full of lights and a beautiful atmosphere. The entire period is interwoven with a rich program, such as parades, lighting of lamps, fireworks, concerts, and other performances. The Christmas Village stretches out in all directions, and its highlight is Plaça Guillemó, which is in the center of the old town.

Andorran Christmas traditions

So far, it looks like the Andorran Christmas is more or less similar to ours. You might be surprised to find that people here celebrate a number of very special traditions that are typical of this Catalan region.

Caga Tio

Caga Tió is a box with legs. His back is covered with a checkered blanket to keep him warm, and a beret is stuck over his smiley face. This box brought gifts to children long before Father Christmas and is still very popular today.

Caganer

Caganer is an extraordinary custom that might surprise even one. It is associated with defecation and is personified by a figure with his pants down. Often, the endowment is also depicted under it. Today, Caganer takes the form of politicians, celebrities, and athletes. Caganer is said to bring luck and fertility, so children look for him in the back of Bethlehem, where he is usually hidden.

Bethlehem

The last tradition is the Nativity scenes, built here with precision and size far preceding those from our streets. A nativity scene with life-size statues can be found, for example, in Canillo. A rarity is a live nativity scene in Escaldes-Engordany, in which 120 actors and many residents perform at this attraction willy-nilly for at least two to three days during the holidays.

Father Christmas

And Andorra is no exception, here too the children are visited by Father Christmas in red, accompanied by his elves. It is up to individual families whether they welcome him at a social event or privately. You can often meet this holy man in processions, where children hand him a letter with wishes.

In the Vallnord ski area, you can even arrange a personal meeting with Father Christmas. The children can spend a few moments with him, talk, and tell him their wishes, after which there will be a joint snack. The Christmas atmosphere is truly omnipresent in Andorra.

Traditional Christmas food in Andorra

Andorra is also accompanied by a feast full of flavors and aromas during the holidays. The influence of the surrounding states has gradually built up the local cuisine, where you can enjoy excellent meat and delicious desserts. Escudella is a national dish and a traditional Christmas delicacy.

How to cook Escudella

Andorra’s national dish will warm and fill you up. It is also prepared on the festive table during the Christmas holidays, full of meat, and eaten with bread.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry white beans
• 1 ham bone
• 1 bone marrow
• 3 chicken thighs
• 14 oz of pork sausage
• 1 thick slice of ham
• 1⁄2 head of cabbage
• 1 large potato, cut into large pieces
• 1⁄4 cup uncooked rice
• 1 cup pasta shells
• 1 cup canned chickpeas
• salt and pepper

Method:

• Cut the raw sausage into rounds.
• Rinse the dry beans in cold water.
• Cook the sausage on the side.
• Cut the ham into cubes.
• Place the beans, sausage, ham, chicken, and bones in a pot with 8 cups of water.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for two hours. The chicken should be almost falling apart.
• Remove the bones and the remaining broth, and bring the meat to a boil again (you can add more water if the liquid is low).
• Add cabbage, potatoes, rice, pasta shells, chickpeas, and salt and pepper.
• Cook for another 30 minutes or until the potatoes and rice are tender.

Where to go in Andorra for snow

The last few words will belong to Andorran tourism. If you have enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere of the local markets to your heart’s content, another big attraction is the skiing paradise with panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains.

Visit the most famous resort, Grandvalira, which offers many possibilities for skiing, famous gastronomic experiences, and other tourist attractions. Other beautiful places include Arinsal and Soldeu.

If you still wonder how Christmas is celebrated in Andorra, you have found the answers you need. The small country in the heart of the Pyrenees is a paradise for all those who love the atmosphere of Advent. The famous markets’ beauty and delicacies are combined here with a view of the snow-capped peaks, so don’t hesitate to go for your Christmas dream right now!