Christmas in Girona.
You will not find a Santa's Grotto anywhere here and they don't exactly go 'over the top' with their Christmas street decorations either, and they don't seem to appear until the very start of December. The old town Rambla has a sprinkling of Christmas lights and the Hipercor/Corte Ingles complex (C/ Barcelona) has outdoor illuminations which look nice.
Some private residences are decorated but not with the same enthusiasm as you might see in some U.K towns!
The whole xmas experience feels much less commercialized than back in the UK. You just never really see the hustle and bustle of shoppers (except maybe in Espai Girones) at anytime, even a few days before xmas when 'last-minute' shoppers come out!
Even on one xmas eve I observed that many shops were closed in the afternoon! Also, I've noticed that you can't seem to buy 'Gift Vouchers' in many shops.
Kids though certainly get their fair share of gifts with three 'gift-giving' times. First comes the 'Tio' (uncle) around xmas eve, which is a dressed-up wooden log that has a painted-on face, stilts for legs and a red hat or blanket which you can buy or just create yourself. The tradition involves children beating this Tio with a small stick at the same time as shouting 'Tio, Tio' and also 'feeding' it with small pieces of fruit or similar prior to receiving any gifts. As you hit the Tio it's supposed to 'shit' small presents! However, parents usually place a number of small gifts around the tio a couple of days before xmas.
But, the gift giving carries on into the new year with the Three Kings celebration on around the 5th or 6th of January when kids get another round of pressies. The processions are well worth watching and take place in all the major towns and cities in this region. (see the Girona Festivals page).
Here are a few xmas shopping events in Girona. Again, if your'e visiting at this time of year then check the main tourist office in the Rambla for up-to-date info on local events and free leaflets.
Firanadal (xmas fair), above, Placa Independencia from the 2nd Dec. till 5th of Jan. 10am-9pm. Lots of stalls selling xmas gift ideas like plants, toys, jewellery, clothes and paintings. Annual event.
Fira de productes artesans (artesan food products) C/ Santa Clara, Sat 1st & 8th Dec 10am-9pm.
Fira de productes artesans, Pont de Pedra (stone bridge) non-food items, 15th Dec.-5th Jan. 10am-9pm.
Xmas plants and flowers, in the Ramla Llibertat (old town) from 15th-24th Dec. 10am-9pm.
In 2006 there was also a large marquee in Placa Catalunya which sold Antiques from various dealers during the run-up to Christmas (not here in 2007 I noticed).
Christmas markets elsewhere.
There's an annual night-time medieval type craft market held at the beginning of December in Peratalada, near Bisbal.
Olot has a xmas market 6-8th Dec.
2008 Updates: Here's a handy website that lists a lot of xmas events in the area www.pessebresvivents.cat The pages are in Catalan but if you follow the individual links you may find some in English. Pessebres are the equivalent of nativity scenes and a big tradition here. The 'pessebres vivents' refers to a 'living re-enactment' which places like Pals have every year. www.pessebreviventpals.es.tl
Many of the towns and villages have a Christmas market alongside them selling local produce and gifts.
Other things of note:
The artificial, open-air Ice Rink is coming to Girona yet again, this year (08) it's a bit shorter, Dec 19th to Jan. 5th 2009 in Pl. Independencia and this time is covered. One entry price of 6€ for an hour (boot hire included) and gloves are compulsory.
Xmas 2009 it was moved to inside the Fires de Girona building.
The Espai Girones shopping centre is normally open every Sunday in the lead up to Christmas.
Bon Nadal and Felic Any Nou !