The Spanish Christmas Eve is known as 'Nochebuena', meaning 'The Good Night'. It is the most important family day of the year, with friends and family gathering in each others' houses for a wonderful Spanish feast.

Typically a family will dine extensively with a fish or, more often, prawn starter followed by roast lamb or suckling pig. For dessert it is traditional to eat Turrón, a sumptuous nougat made with toasted sweet almonds.

While food is the main order of the day, accompanying the food will be Cava (the Spanish equivalent of champagne) and a selection of the finest Spanish wines.

The traditional Spanish Christmas Eve dinner comes is interrrupted at midnight by the ringing bells of the local church, most will then go to midnight mass, known in Spain as “La Misa de gallo” (the Mass of the Rooster). With strongly religious families  the Christmas Eve feast does not take place until after mass.

There are many other traditions common to Nochebuena, one that is practiced in most of the world includes the Nacimientos (nativity scenes). This Spanish tradition is called the Belén, and consists of making a miniature represenations of the night Jesus Christ was born. In many towns, the locals make live Belenes with real people plaingy the roles of Maria, Jose, Baltasar, Melchior, Gaspar and a real baby as Jesus.