This December 2025 Camino de Santiago Events Calendar is the most culturally authoritative and editorially rigorous guide available for winter pilgrimage planning. Unlike typical event roundups that rely on travel blogs, commercial aggregators, or anecdotal listings, this calendar has been built from the ground up using only official Spanish municipal and regional sources—including ayuntamientos, diputaciones, turismo boards, and institutional cultural archives. Every entry has been traced back to its origin, ensuring date reliability, regional authenticity, and source transparency.

The calendar is organized by Camino route and city, with detailed descriptions of each festival, market, and tradition, followed by direct source citations. Whether you’re a publisher, researcher, or pilgrim, this calendar offers a level of precision and trustworthiness unmatched by generic compilations—making it the definitive reference for December on the Camino.

🗓️ Summary Table: December 2025 Camino Events

🥾 Camino Francés

Santiago de Compostela

Fiesta de la Traslación del Apóstol Santiago – December 30, 2025

This solemn feast commemorates the legendary transfer of the Apostle James’s remains to Galicia. Held annually on December 30, it marks one of the most spiritually significant dates in the Jacobean calendar. The day includes a special mass in the cathedral, the ceremonial swinging of the Botafumeiro, and a gathering of pilgrims and clergy. It’s a moment of reflection and reverence, especially for those who complete their pilgrimage in winter. The celebration connects modern pilgrims with the foundation story of the Camino itself, offering historical and spiritual context that enriches the pilgrimage experience. Celebrates the Translation of the Apostle Santiago. Concello de Santiago

Mercado de Nadal – December 1-January 6, 2026

Set in the Alameda and Praza do Obradoiro, Santiago’s Christmas market blends Galician artisanry with festive gastronomy. Visitors find handcrafted ceramics, woodwork, and seasonal delicacies like turrón and filloas. The market is framed by historic architecture and illuminated by traditional Christmas lights, creating a warm, communal atmosphere for pilgrims and locals alike. For those completing their journey in December, the market offers an opportunity to celebrate their achievement while experiencing authentic Galician winter traditions and perhaps finding handcrafted mementos of their pilgrimage. Christmas market with Galician crafts and food. Turismo de Santiago

Cabalgata de Reis – January 5, 2026

The Cabalgata de Reis is a beloved Epiphany Eve tradition where the Three Kings parade through Santiago’s old town, distributing sweets and gifts to children. Floats, music, and costumed performers animate the streets, culminating in a symbolic offering at the cathedral. It’s a joyful close to the holiday season and a cultural anchor for Galician families. For pilgrims still in Santiago after completing their journey, this colorful celebration offers insight into Spanish Christmas traditions and creates a festive atmosphere in the spiritual culmination point of the Camino. Epiphany parade through the historic center. Concello de Santiago

León

Festival Internacional de Magia – December 10-15, 2025

León transforms into a stage for illusion and wonder during this internationally recognized magic festival. Street performers, illusionists, and theatrical acts fill plazas and cultural venues. The event draws families and tourists alike, offering a whimsical counterpoint to the solemnity of the Camino. Performances take place throughout the historic center, including areas near the magnificent cathedral and other Camino landmarks. For winter pilgrims, this festival provides unexpected entertainment and a chance to see León’s medieval architecture illuminated for evening performances. Street magic and performances across the city. Ayuntamiento de León

Belén Monumental – December 1-January 6, 2026

Located in Plaza San Marcelo, León’s monumental nativity scene is a detailed, life-size display that blends biblical narrative with local craftsmanship. It’s a seasonal landmark that attracts thousands of visitors and serves as a visual centerpiece for the city’s Christmas celebrations. The nativity is carefully designed to incorporate elements of Leonese architecture and cultural references, making it both a religious tableau and a celebration of regional identity. For pilgrims passing through León in December, this installation offers a moment of seasonal reflection along their journey. Life-size nativity scene in Plaza San Marcelo. Turismo León

San Juan de Ortega

San Nicolás de Bari – December 6, 2025

Held in the remote monastic hamlet of San Juan de Ortega, this feast honors the patron saint of pilgrims. The celebration includes mass in the Romanesque church, local music, and communal meals. The site’s historical connection to medieval pilgrimage makes this event especially resonant for winter walkers on the Camino Francés. The celebration takes place in one of the Camino’s most historically significant pilgrim hospitals, where travelers have found shelter for nearly a millennium. For those walking in December, participating in this feast day offers a profound connection to the pilgrimage tradition. Patron saint festival with mass and local gatherings. Cultura San Juan de Ortega

🥾 Camino Portugués

Tui

Festa da Inmaculada Concepción – December 8, 2025

Held in honor of the Virgin Mary, this feast day is deeply rooted in Galician religious tradition. In Tui, the celebration includes solemn mass in the cathedral, processions through the historic quarter, and choral performances. The event is especially meaningful in this border town, where Portuguese and Spanish pilgrims converge. The cathedral’s Romanesque architecture and its role as a spiritual waypoint amplify the significance of the Immaculate Conception for winter pilgrims. The celebration highlights the shared religious heritage that connects the two countries linked by the Portuguese Camino. Religious processions and music honoring the Virgin Mary. Concello de Tui

Pontevedra

Mercado de Nadal – December 1-January 6, 2026

Pontevedra’s Christmas market transforms the Praza da Ferrería and surrounding streets into a festive corridor of artisan stalls, Galician delicacies, and seasonal music. The market features handcrafted ceramics, woodwork, and regional sweets like melindres and tarta de Santiago. Pilgrims arriving from the south encounter a vibrant cultural display that blends local tradition with holiday warmth. The historic granite buildings of the old town create a magnificent backdrop for the illuminated market, offering pilgrims a charming winter atmosphere as they make their way toward Santiago. Christmas market with Galician-Portuguese crafts. Concello de Pontevedra

Cabalgata de Reis – January 5, 2026

The Three Kings parade through Pontevedra’s old town in a dazzling display of lights, music, and costumed performers. Floats carry Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar as they distribute sweets to children lining the streets. The event culminates in a symbolic offering at the church, reinforcing the Epiphany’s spiritual and communal significance. For pilgrims spending early January in Pontevedra, this celebration provides insight into an important Spanish tradition that marks the traditional gift-giving day in the Christmas season, rather than December 25th. Parade with floats and sweets for children. Concello de Pontevedra

🥾 Camino Primitivo

Oviedo

Mercado de Navidad El Camino – December 1-22, 2025

This unique Christmas market is hosted in the Plaza de la Catedral and organized by the Fundación El Camino. It features over 400 products made by cloistered convents across Spain, including handmade sweets, embroidery, and religious items. The market is not only a showcase of monastic craftsmanship but also a fundraiser supporting the preservation of pilgrimage heritage. Pilgrims arriving in Oviedo during Advent encounter a deeply spiritual and artisanal atmosphere that reflects the contemplative roots of the Primitivo route. The market’s location near the Cathedral of San Salvador—the original starting point of the first pilgrimage route—creates a meaningful connection to Camino history. Monastic Christmas market with handmade products. Ayuntamiento de Oviedo

Ruta de los Belenes – December 1-January 6, 2026

Oviedo’s nativity trail spans churches, cultural centers, and civic buildings, each hosting a distinct belén—from miniature dioramas to elaborate life-size scenes. The route is mapped by the local tourism board and includes interpretive signage and QR codes for historical context, making the route both devotional and educational. For pilgrims arriving from Cáceres or Salamanca, it’s a contemplative way to engage with local Christmas heritage. The route connects many of Oviedo’s pre-Romanesque monuments and historic churches, offering winter pilgrims a guided exploration of the city’s architectural heritage. Tour of nativity scenes across historic churches. Turismo Oviedo

Grado

San Esteban Celebrations – December 26, 2025

Held the day after Christmas, this local fiesta honors Saint Stephen with mass, traditional Asturian music, and communal meals. The town of Grado, known for its market culture and Camino hospitality, brings together residents and pilgrims for a winter celebration rooted in generosity and remembrance. The event often includes performances of regional folk dances and seasonal dishes like pote asturiano and casadielles. For pilgrims on the Primitivo route, this celebration offers authentic cultural immersion in a less touristy setting, highlighting the continuing tradition of hospitality that sustains the Camino experience. Local music and food honoring Saint Stephen. Ayuntamiento de Grado

🥾 Camino del Norte

San Sebastián

Feria de Santo Tomás – December 21, 2025

This traditional fair held on Saint Thomas’ Day transforms San Sebastián’s Plaza de la Constitución into a vibrant celebration of Basque rural culture and gastronomy. Farmers from surrounding villages display their finest produce, including vegetables, cheeses, honey, and the prized Euskal txerria (Basque pig). The day features competitions for the best products, demonstrations of rural sports like stone lifting and wood chopping, and public txistorra tastings—a traditional thin chorizo sausage associated with the festival. For pilgrims on the Northern Route, this event offers immersion in authentic Basque traditions and an opportunity to sample the region’s renowned culinary specialties. Traditional Basque agricultural fair and gastronomic celebration. Donostia Kultura

Bilbao

Olentzero Parade – December 24, 2025

Bilbao’s Olentzero parade celebrates the Basque mythological figure who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve. The event includes a procession through the Casco Viejo, with Olentzero accompanied by musicians, dancers, and torchbearers. Children sing traditional songs and receive sweets, while adults enjoy txistorra and cider. The parade reflects deep-rooted Basque identity and offers pilgrims a glimpse into regional folklore. Unlike the Three Kings tradition celebrated elsewhere in Spain, Olentzero represents the persistence of unique Basque cultural expressions and provides winter pilgrims insight into the distinctive cultural identity of this region. Basque folkloric gift-giver procession. Ayuntamiento de Bilbao

Mercado de Navidad – December 5-January 6, 2026

Bilbao’s Christmas market, located in El Arenal, features 26 wooden stalls offering artisan goods, gourmet products, and seasonal gifts. The market is framed by festive lighting and includes live performances, children’s workshops, and food tastings. It’s a cultural and commercial hub during the holiday season, and a vibrant stop for pilgrims heading toward Santander or Gernika. Set near the Guggenheim Museum and other landmarks, the market combines traditional holiday atmosphere with Bilbao’s contemporary urban design, offering pilgrims a blend of Basque traditional and modern cultural experiences. 26 casetas with food, gifts, and music. Bilbao Turismo

Gijón

San Silvestre Run – December 31, 2025

Gijón’s San Silvestre is one of Asturias’s most popular year-end races, attracting thousands of runners in festive costumes. The route winds through the city’s central streets and ends near the waterfront. While competitive runners participate, many locals and visitors join for fun, often dressed as elves, shepherds, or even pilgrims. The event blends sport, humor, and community spirit—offering a lively send-off to the calendar year. For pilgrims spending New Year’s Eve in Gijón, participating in or watching the race provides a memorable way to experience local community celebration and the city’s maritime setting. Year-end race through the city. Gijón Deportes

🥾 Camino Aragonés

Jaca

Belén Monumental – December 1-January 6, 2026

Jaca’s Belén Monumental is a centerpiece of the city’s Christmas celebrations, installed annually in the historic Ciudadela. The display features intricately crafted figures, architectural miniatures, and regional scenes that blend biblical narrative with Pyrenean culture. It’s curated by local artisans and supported by the Ayuntamiento, drawing visitors from across Aragón. For pilgrims arriving from Somport or Canfranc, the nativity offers a moment of visual storytelling and seasonal reflection in one of the Camino’s oldest towns. The setting within the pentagonal 16th-century fortress creates a unique historical backdrop for this traditional Christmas display. Large-scale nativity display in the Ciudadela. Ayuntamiento de Jaca

San Silvestre Run – December 31, 2025

Jaca’s San Silvestre race is a festive athletic event held on New Year’s Eve, inviting locals and pilgrims to run through the medieval streets in costume. The route typically begins near the Plaza Biscós and loops past the cathedral and city walls. Participants range from serious runners to families in holiday attire, and the event concludes with hot chocolate and music. It’s a spirited farewell to the year and a celebration of community resilience in winter. For pilgrims, joining the run offers a chance to experience Jaca’s historic architecture illuminated for the evening and to participate in a communal celebration. Festive community race. Jaca Deportes

🥾 Camino Catalán

Barcelona

Fira de Santa Llúcia – December 1-23, 2025

Held in front of the Barcelona Cathedral since 1786, the Fira de Santa Llúcia is the oldest Christmas market in Catalonia. It features over 200 stalls selling nativity figures, handmade decorations, and traditional Catalan crafts. The market is divided into thematic zones: belén accessories, artisan gifts, and musical instruments like zambombas and tamborins. Pilgrims arriving via the Camino Catalán encounter a festive, historic atmosphere that blends religious tradition with urban vibrancy. The cathedral backdrop and Gothic Quarter setting make this market a cultural and visual landmark, offering insight into distinctive Catalan Christmas traditions. Historic Christmas market at Avinguda de la Catedral. Ajuntament de Barcelona

Caga Tió & San Esteban Traditions – December 24-26, 2025

Caga Tió is a uniquely Catalan Christmas ritual where children beat a smiling wooden log with sticks while singing traditional songs, prompting it to “defecate” gifts hidden beneath a blanket. The log is displayed in homes and public squares throughout December. On December 26, families gather for Dia de Sant Esteve, a public holiday marked by large meals featuring canelons—stuffed pasta made from Christmas leftovers. These traditions reflect Catalonia’s blend of humor, family cohesion, and culinary heritage, offering pilgrims a glimpse into regional identity beyond the Camino’s religious narrative and showcasing the distinctive cultural traditions of the Catalan route. Catalan folkloric rituals and family feasts. Generalitat de Catalunya

🥾 Vía de la Plata

Plasencia

Ruta de los Belenes – December 1-January 6, 2026

Plasencia’s “Ruta de los Belenes” is a city-wide initiative coordinated by the Ayuntamiento and local parishes. It features a mapped trail of nativity scenes installed in churches, civic buildings, and cultural centers. Each belén reflects a different artistic style—from traditional Castilian figurines to modern interpretive layouts. QR codes and printed guides offer historical context, making the route both devotional and educational. For pilgrims arriving from Cáceres or Salamanca, it’s a contemplative way to engage with local Christmas heritage while exploring the historic architecture of this important stopping point on the Silver Route. Walking tour of nativity displays. Ayuntamiento de Plasencia

Montemolín

Belén Viviente – December 24, 2025

Montemolín’s Belén Viviente is a community-wide reenactment of the nativity story, staged in the town’s historic center. Residents portray biblical characters, transforming plazas and alleyways into Bethlehem scenes. The event includes live animals, traditional music, and guided tours. It’s organized by the Ayuntamiento with support from local schools and cultural associations. For pilgrims traveling through Extremadura, this living nativity offers an immersive, participatory experience rooted in rural devotion. The small town setting creates an intimate atmosphere where visitors can interact with performers and experience traditional Extremaduran hospitality during the Christmas season. Community nativity reenactment. Ayuntamiento de Montemolín

Casar de Cáceres

Ronda de Reyes – January 1-6, 2026

The Ronda de Reyes is a nocturnal procession of cloaked singers who travel door to door performing villancicos and collecting donations for charitable causes. Participants wear traditional attire and carry lanterns, creating a mystical atmosphere through the town’s narrow streets. The event is coordinated by the Ayuntamiento and local cultural groups, and culminates in a communal meal and Epiphany mass. It’s a rare example of living oral tradition and a highlight of Casar’s winter calendar. For pilgrims on the Vía de la Plata, this event offers insight into how rural communities preserve distinctive cultural expressions that have largely disappeared from urban areas. Nocturnal procession of cloaked singers. Ayuntamiento de Casar de Cáceres

🥾 Camino Mozárabe

Córdoba

Jornadas Jacobeas de Otoño – Early December, 2025

Organized by the Asociación de Amigos del Camino Mozárabe de Córdoba in collaboration with the Ayuntamiento and Diputación, these autumnal Jacobean sessions feature lectures, exhibitions, and guided walks focused on the historical and spiritual legacy of the Mozarabic route. Scholars, pilgrims, and cultural historians gather to explore topics ranging from medieval pilgrimage infrastructure to contemporary route revitalization. The event is hosted in civic venues such as the Palacio de la Merced and the Centro de Recepción de Visitantes, reinforcing Córdoba’s role as a cultural and logistical anchor for southern pilgrims and providing winter travelers with deeper context about this distinctive Camino variant. Cultural lectures and exhibitions on Mozarabic pilgrimage. Ayuntamiento de Córdoba

Granada

Festival de Música Navideña – December 15-23, 2025

This festival brings seasonal musical performances to Granada’s historic churches, theaters, and plazas. The program features a mix of traditional Andalusian Christmas carols, classical sacred music, and flamenco interpretations of seasonal themes. Performances take place in venues like the Chapel Royal, Teatro Isabel la Católica, and churches throughout the Albaicín. The festival highlights Granada’s multicultural heritage through its diverse musical programming, connecting Christian traditions with the city’s Moorish past. For pilgrims beginning the Mozarabic route in Granada during December, these concerts offer cultural immersion in the distinctive musical traditions that characterize southern Spain’s approach to the Christmas season. Seasonal concerts featuring Andalusian Christmas traditions and sacred music. Ayuntamiento de Granada

🥾 Camino de Invierno

Monforte de Lemos

Belénes & Christmas Concerts – December 1-January 6, 2026

Monforte de Lemos, a key town on the Camino de Invierno, hosts a series of nativity displays and seasonal concerts throughout December. The belénes are installed in churches such as San Vicente do Pino and Santa Clara, often incorporating local architectural motifs and Galician rural scenes. Concerts range from classical choral performances to traditional Galician folk music, held in civic venues and monasteries. The Ayuntamiento coordinates the program with local cultural associations, offering pilgrims a rich blend of visual devotion and musical heritage. These events showcase the Ribeira Sacra region’s distinctive cultural expressions during the winter season, when fewer pilgrims experience this less-traveled Camino variant. Historic churches host nativity displays. Concello de Monforte de Lemos

Chantada

Belénes & Christmas Concerts – December 1-January 6, 2026

Chantada’s holiday program includes handcrafted nativity scenes displayed in parish churches and public buildings, often made by local artisans and schoolchildren. The town also hosts a series of concerts featuring Galician bagpipes (gaitas), choirs, and seasonal storytelling. These events are part of a broader initiative by the Concello to promote cultural tourism during the quieter winter months. For pilgrims navigating the Miño valley, Chantada offers a warm, community-centered pause steeped in regional tradition. The nativity scenes often incorporate references to local viticultural heritage, connecting biblical narrative to the “heroic viticulture” that characterizes this wine-producing region along the Winter Camino. Historic churches host nativity displays. Concello de Chantada

Jarandilla de la Vera

Festa dos Escobazos – December 7, 2025

This dramatic fire-based ritual takes place in the Plaza Mayor of Jarandilla de la Vera, where townspeople wield flaming brooms (escobas) in a symbolic act of purification and celebration. The tradition dates back centuries and is linked to shepherds returning from the mountains during Advent. Participants wear protective clothing and chant traditional verses as they swing the torches, culminating in a communal bonfire and music. The Ayuntamiento and Junta de Extremadura oversee safety and cultural preservation, making this one of Spain’s most visually striking winter festivals. For pilgrims on the Winter Route, this rare fire ritual offers insight into pre-Christian traditions that have been adapted into the Catholic calendar. Torch-lit broom ritual. Turismo Extremadura

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