Quick answer: Christmas in Spain is a run of meals: Nochebuena dinner on December 24, lunch on the 25th, twelve grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and roscón de Reyes on January 5 and 6. Jamón, cheese, seafood and turrón are always on the table. In the US, turrón, whole hams and gift boxes ship to the 48 contiguous states; cheese goes to Florida only, and the roscón to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
I grew up in Madrid, and at home Christmas was never one meal but a string of them, from Nochebuena to the Three Kings. Every family does it its own way; this is how we have always done it at home, and what we can send you from here.
What do Spaniards eat at Christmas?
In my house the cooking starts in the morning. We say a prayer before dinner and toast with sidra (Spanish cider), as we always did in Madrid and still do here in Florida. First comes the aperitivo: jamón, cheese and embutidos with picos and regañás (little crunchy breadsticks), and langostinos. Then my grandmother’s seafood soup, or the consomé of the Nani, my other grandmother. Then the roast, cochinillo or lamb chops, and the sweets at the end. It is the order I remember from every Christmas: starters, soup, roast or fish, and sweets.
| Date | What happens | On the table |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, Nochebuena | The big family dinner | Starters, soup or stew, roast or fish, turrón |
| Dec 25, Navidad | Family lunch | The sweets tray, again |
| Dec 31, Nochevieja | Twelve grapes, one per chime at midnight | The grapes, for luck |
| Jan 5 | Three Kings parades in the afternoon | The roscón is already out |
| Jan 6, Reyes | Children’s gifts, Epiphany | Roscón de Reyes |
Every region has its own soup: cocido in Andalusia, escudella in Catalonia, garlic soup in Castilla-La Mancha, almond cream in the Balearic Islands, trout soup in Castile and León. Roast lamb, suckling pig, baked besugo (sea bream) and langostinos are on many Nochebuena tables. Those you will have to cook or buy locally; we do not sell them.
What is turrón, and what other sweets belong on the table?
For me, Christmas really starts when the tray of turrón and polvorones comes out. The two classic turrones are the soft one from Jijona and the hard one from Alicante, both protected (IGP) since 1996. Our turrón guide explains the difference and the labels.
Next to the turrón go the mantecados and polvorones: crumbly sweets made with lard, flour and sugar, often with almonds, and in Spain people buy even more of them than turrón. At home there is a tray full of them all Christmas, and nobody lets it run empty. My wife and my mother love the original almond polvorón; I am more of a lemon or chocolate mantecado. We do not sell polvorones or mantecados, but no Spanish Christmas is complete without them. Marzipan is the other classic, and these days chocolate turrón is the one that sells most in Spanish supermarkets.
If you want turrón on your table this year, these are ours, and they ship anywhere in the US except Alaska and Hawaii:
- Alemany Soft Jijona Turrón (Almond & Honey), 10.6 oz: $24.95
- Alemany Alicante Turrón Imperial Cake, 3.5 oz: $12.95
- Alemany Chocolate Almond Turrón, 10.6 oz: $29.95
See the whole Turrón & Sweets category.
Is jamón part of the Spanish Christmas table?
Yes, and in my house it is where everything starts. The jamón is for picking at before the meal, what we call the aperitivo, with cheese, other embutidos, olives and sometimes a tapa. If friends come over and there was no aperitivo, the plate goes in the middle of the table to share. And all through the holidays there is a bocadillo de jamón with tomato and olive oil, mid-morning or for the afternoon merienda. We plan about 2 oz per guest when the ham is one of several starters. A 15 to 17 lb leg gives you about 50 servings and a paleta 20 to 24, so for 10 to 15 people the paleta is the right size.
Both of these ship free anywhere in the US except Alaska and Hawaii: the Cortijo de Canata Serrano, 15-17 lb ($279) and the Beher Ibérico cebo de campo paleta, 8-10 lb ($399). See all our Spanish hams. Sliced packs and the boneless block travel refrigerated, so for now they only go to Florida.
Our carving guide shows you how to cut it. A ham you start at Nochebuena lasts into January if you keep it well: plan to finish it in 3 to 6 weeks.
What goes on a Spanish Christmas cheese board?
Cheese goes out with the starters, next to the jamón. For a Spanish board, start with Manchego, a sheep’s milk cheese with its own DOP: the older it is, the firmer and stronger. Serve it at room temperature in thin triangles with membrillo, almonds and good bread. Our Manchego guide explains the ages and how to tell a real DOP wedge by its back label and numbered plate.
Cheese has to travel cold, so for now we only deliver it in Florida. In our Spanish cheese section you will find the Vega Mancha Manchego DOP aged 3 months, 1 lb wedge ($27.95) and the 6-month wedge ($31.95). Outside Florida, the guide will help you pick a real Manchego in a local shop.
What is roscón de Reyes, and can you order one in the US?
Roscón de Reyes is a sweet ring-shaped bread with orange-blossom water and candied fruit on top. It is meant for January 5 and 6, but at home we have roscón all through Christmas: it is one of the family’s favorite sweets, and my wife tells me off if there is none. Inside there is a figurine, which crowns whoever finds it, and a dried bean, the haba: whoever gets the haba pays for the roscón, as it always was in my house. It comes plain or filled with cream; my mother and my father-in-law like it plain, the rest of us with cream. We have it with a glass of milk with Cola Cao or Nesquik, a café con leche or thick hot chocolate. If you know the Mexican rosca, it will look familiar, but it is not quite the same.
We make ours by hand, classic and plain, about 1.5 lb (650-750 g), for 8 to 10 people, with the haba and the figurine in a separate small bag and a paper crown in the box. We deliver it by hand in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, from November 25 to January 10 (none on January 1): $65, $75 on December 24, 25 and 31, and $80 on January 5 and 6, with a limited number each day. Order at least 5 days ahead; from January 2 you can order until noon (ET) the day before, while they last. Delivery is $15. The waiting list can book from Saturday, October 31 at 6 pm ET, a day before we announce it anywhere else. All the details are on the roscón de Reyes page.
Which Spanish Christmas gifts ship across the US?
Our gift sets and combos ship to the lower 48. The ham boxes ship free; the two pantry boxes pay the $9.95 pantry rate unless your order reaches $250.
| Box | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Serrano Ham Starter Kit with Stand & Knife | $349 | A Serrano leg aged 15 months, pine stand and steel knife: a first whole ham |
| Melquiades 50% Ibérico Ham Box with Stand, Knife & Tapas | $599 | A whole 50% Ibérico cebo de campo ham, ready to carve, with tapas |
| Beher 100% Ibérico Ham Feast Box with Stand, Knife & Chorizo | $779 | A whole Beher 100% Ibérico cebo de campo ham from Guijuelo, with stand, knife and chorizo |
| Cinco Jotas Grand Ham Box with Stand & Knife | $1,699 | A whole Cinco Jotas 100% Ibérico de bellota ham, our top ham box |
| Galician Tinned Fish Gift Box, 6 Tins | $69.95 | Six Galician conservas |
| Paella Night for 2 Gift Box | $72.95 | A paella dinner for two: pan, paprika, gazpacho and mussels in escabeche |
For something smaller: a box of Alemany Soft Jijona Turrón ($24.95) or the Marcos Tonda filled chocolates gift box ($18.95).
How do you order in time for Christmas?
Our hams leave Florida in 1 to 2 business days. By ground they take about 2 to 6 business days depending on your state, and 1 to 2 within Florida (see our shipping policy); these are estimates, not guarantees. I would rather not give you a Christmas deadline and then have your ham arrive late, so order early, and if you need it on a specific day, write to us on the contact page before you pay. In hot weather, chocolate and turrón may ship on a different day. For the roscón, its page shows the last day to order for each delivery date.
FAQ
What do Spaniards eat on Christmas Eve?
It depends on the region and the family. Usually jamón, cheese and seafood to start, then a soup, then roast lamb, suckling pig or baked fish, and turrón and polvorones to finish.
Why do Spaniards eat twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve?
One grape for each chime of the clock at midnight, for luck in the new year. Most of us watch the Puerta del Sol clock in Madrid on TV and try to finish all twelve before the last chime. In my house they never miss, in Madrid or here in Florida.
When is roscón de Reyes eaten?
On the afternoon of January 5 or on the 6th, after the Three Kings have left the presents, although at home we eat it all Christmas. Ours is delivered in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach from November 25 to January 10.
Which Spanish Christmas foods ship outside Florida?
Turrón and sweets, whole hams and paletas, pantry items and the gift boxes above ship to the 48 contiguous states. Cheese, sliced ham and refrigerated charcuterie go to Florida only for now, and the roscón to Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii or PO boxes.