Spirit of Christmas fills the Sagrada Família - Spirit of Christmas fills the Sagrada Família

The Basilica of the Sagrada Família is offering a programme of activities and celebrations to share with the people and enjoy the Christmas spirit together.

It includes religious services, workshops and concerts for everyone, old and young, to experience the symbolism of this very special time of year. The events will take place from 30 November through the end of December, giving people the chance to connect with Christmas culture and traditions.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP, LAST TICKETS

Once again this year, the Sagrada Família is offering a Christmas workshop for kids aged 6 to 12. With this activity, the little ones will be able to experience the spirit of Christmas at the Basilica.

The workshop will include a guided tour of the Temple focusing on the Nativity façade, where the children will guess the relationship between the sculpture groups on the façade and Christmas traditions.

Then they will do a handicraft workshop, making a paper cut-out ornament recreating Christmas scenes and motifs, like the ones traditionally used to decorate churches in Catalonia in the past. Participants can take it with them as a souvenir.

The workshop costs €8.00 and you can check out the times and languages of the sessions on https://sagradafamilia.org/en/christmas. 

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The traditional Christmas Concert will be held on Friday 13 December at 7:00 pm. This year it will feature Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès and Orfeó Català, conducted by Salvador Brotons. They will play a selection of Christmas favourites, including The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Messiah by George Frideric Handel, The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss, as well as carols, including a selection from La Nit de Nadal by Joan Lamote de Grignon.

As we do every Christmas, the Sagrada Família will hold a draw to give out 350 tickets for two to this traditional concert. To enter, fill in the form on the link HERE between 2 December at 10:00 am and 8 December at 9:00 pm. You can also stream the concert here: sagradafamilia.org/en/livestreams.

CAROLLING ON THE NATIVITY FAÇADE

On Monday 16 December at 6:30 pm, there will be carolling on Carrer de la Marina, in front of the Nativity façade, with two choirs from the Lluïsos de Gràcia association: Coral El Virolet (one group aged 7 to 9 and the other 9 to 15), and Coral Sinera (ages 15 to 25). They will perform traditional Catalan carols and Christmas songs from around the world both individually and together in some cases. This event is free of charge and open to all.

ILLUMINATION OF THE NATIVITY FAÇADE

On 20, 21 and 22 December, we’ll be illuminating the Nativity façade, the place where Gaudí represented the birth of Jesus. The show will include music and storytelling to accompany the lighting of the sculpture groups of the Nativity, the Adoration of the shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi. As the sculptures are lit up, the narrator will explain the details and meaning of each of these scenes, for a full experience of the symbolism of Jesus’ birth.

The show can be seen from Carrer de la Marina from 20 to 22 December and lasts 10 minutes.

MIDNIGHT MASS

On 24 December at 7:00 pm, the Sagrada Família will host Midnight mass for the little ones to celebrate Christmas. The ceremony will be led by Mons. David Abadías, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, and afterwards mass-goers will go outside for the adoration of the Baby Jesus on the Nativity façade.

There is no charge for attending Midnight mass but capacity is limited.

CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

Again this year, the Sagrada Família is taking part in the Festival de la Infància (Children’s Festival) from 27 to 31 December at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc fairgrounds. This time, the children will get to build a scale prototype of the central towers of the Sagrada Família using 3D printed pieces. They will also get to do a handicraft activity, assembling and painting a small model of the new profile of the building.

The activity is designed for kids aged 6 to 12. The workshop is included with tickets to the Festival de la Infància, which are available here: festivalinfancia.com.

More information on the Christmas celebrations at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família is on our website: sagradafamilia.org/en/christmas