Activities and events in January in Barcelona
January in Barcelona; after all those celebratory moments in December, January gives everyone a moment to relax and recharge. However, it does not yet mean the end of winter activities, since a lot of the markets are still open in January. Even though January is known for being the coldest month of the year in Barcelona, there will, without a doubt, still be plenty of sunny days to enjoy.
What to do in January in Barcelona?
Major Dates
New Year's Day
Three Kings' Day - Epiphany
The Start of the New Year
Of course, January in Barcelona marks the start of the new year, and so some New Year’s Eve festivities occur on the first day of the month. For example, there is the New Year’s swim a noon on January 1st, where people quickly dive into the Meditteranean Sea.
Three King's Day
The Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany, or ‘Dia de los tres Reyes’ in Spanish, and Dia de Reis in Catalan, is one of the most celebrated and important holidays in Spain. Historically, Three Kings Day represents the day the Three Wise Men gave their gifts to the baby Jesus. Thus, this day is a part of the Catholic calendar and marks the conclusion of the Christmas season (the 12th day of Christmas).
Typically, this is when everyone receives the “biggest” presents, whereas Christmas Day itself is more for the “smaller” presents, like from Tió de Nadal. It is said that the Three Kings themselves, who are also known as the Three Wise Men, or Magi, are the ones responsible for children’s gifts.
The parade
The excitement starts the day before on the 5th of January, when the Three Wise Men arrive and each city has their own ‘Cavalcada’ parade.
Roscon de Reyes
For many Spanish families, the 6th of January is an important public holiday in which everyone comes together to unwrap their second lot of presents, and eat plenty of food, including the traditional cake called the ‘Roscon de Reyes’. Hidden inside is a small plastic king or queen and whoever finds it is the monarch for the day. There is also a bean inside the cake; the unfortunate recipient has to buy the Roscon the following year.
January in Barcelona: Festivities
Tres Tombs
On the 17th of January, ‘Tres Tombs’ is celebrated all around Catalonia. In Sant Andreu and Sant Antoni, one can find some of the traditional events, such as the parade with carriages and animals. It owes its name to the tradition of walking around the church three times to receive the priest’s blessing for the animals. It is celebrated in honor of Sant Antoni Abat, who is the patron saint of pets and other animals whose name day is on the 17th of January.
Tres Tombs de Sant Andreu
This tradition revolves around Catalan farmers. Part of the tradition involves a parade with all of the animals. In the neighborhood of Sant Andreu, this parade has been part of the celebration for centuries. On Sunday, everyone in the neighborhood takes their animals to Placa d’Orfila in order for them to receive a blessing. The parade with carriages and floats takes place between 10.00 and 15.00.
Festa Major de Sant Antoni
January is the month in which the Sant Antoni neighborhood is celebrated. There are many fun family activities to enjoy, and of course, there will be a ‘Gran fogueró’, a parade, and the traditional procession with fire known as the ‘correfoc’.
Foguerons de Sa Pobla in Gràcia
The Foguerons de Sant Antoni de Sa Pobla a Gràcia is a highly remarkable ceremony held on the last Saturday of January in the Gràcia neighborhood, though the festivities in 2024 last from the 24 to 28th of January. Seeing as it is traditionally from Mallorca, Majorcan foods are consumed along with traditional dances. Another noticeable tradition that is part of this celebration is all of the little bonfires in the different squares around Gràcia. There are also a ton of different workshops to attend and tastings of Majorcan products.
January in Barcelona: Events
Palo Alto Market
This fun and cozy market takes place nearly every month. The market is located near an old factory, which adds even more authenticity and sparks to this special event. Not only are there a ton of cute stalls with clothing, accessories, and home décor, but there is also live music, incredible food stalls, and amazing art. The tickets are sold online and are available for two different time slots; there is one for the daytime and one for the nighttime.
Circ Raluy
If you are looking for a fun family activity, then the circus is the perfect thing for you! This really is a winter classic in Barcelona. This year, the circus is open from December until February, so there’s still enough time to go and see the show. The circus first opened its door in 1971, so expect the unexpected. These acrobats are, without a doubt, incredibly skilled.
Other
Winter Sale
January is the perfect month to go shopping since there is a winter sale at most stores. So if you have been gifted any gift cards during Christmas time, then now is the best time to redeem them.
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