The Sagrada Família invites citizens to experience the spirit of Christmas - The Sagrada Família invites citizens to experience the spirit of Christmas

For Advent, the Basilica invites citizens to experience the spirit of Christmas and prepare for the arrival of Jesus. The crèche, the streets lit up, dining rooms decorated and the sound of carols remind us of the true meaning of the season: the joy of gathering or reuniting with the ones we love. This is the spirit of Christmas. That’s why, here at the Sagrada Família, we encourage everyone to experience this spirit with several proposals to celebrate these special days.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP

Once again this year, the Sagrada Família is offering a Christmas workshop for kids aged 6 to 12 and their guardians. This year’s workshop includes a tour of the Basilica, paying special attention to the Nativity façade, which takes centre stage during these dates. The workshop also includes a discovery game and making a star-shaped candle holder from die-cut cardboard, which participants can take home to fill their homes with the Christmas spirit.

The workshop will be held on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 24 December, plus 6, 8, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 December, with sessions at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm.

The workshop costs €6.50 per child and adult. Each child must be accompanied by no more than two adults. Book your spot here.

ILLUMINATION OF SCULPTURE GROUPS ON NATIVITY FAÇADE

To share the Christmas spirit with everyone in Barcelona, the Basilica will light up the sculpture groups of the Nativity, the Adoration of the shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi on the Nativity façade from 16 December through 8 January, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

On Friday 16 December at 7:30 pm, the Basilica will fill with music and Christmas spirit with the traditional Christmas Concert. This year, the concert will feature Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès and Cor Bruckner Barcelona who, directed by Xavier Puig, will perform a selection of Christmas carols from all over the world.

As we do every year, the Sagrada Família is holding a draw to give away 500 tickets for 2 among those who sign up for our promotion from 2 December at 10:00 am to 12 December at 10:00 am here. On 12 December from 10:00 am, the winners will be drawn and notified by email in the following days.

ILLUMINATION OF THE TOWERS OF THE EVANGELISTS LUKE AND MARK

When the Christmas Concert lets out on 16 December, the pinnacles of the towers of the Evangelists Luke and Mark will be lit up for the first time, commemorating the end of construction. The towers are topped with their respective winged figures of the tetramorph with the book of the Gospel: an ox for Luke and a lion for Mark, as is traditional in Christian iconography.

They will be lit up from Saturday 17 December through 8 January from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

CHILDREN’S CAROLLING ON THE NATIVITY FAÇADE

On Tuesday 20 December at 6:30 pm, the Sagrada Família will host a carolling session on Carrer de la Marina, in front of the Nativity façade, with the children’s choirs and musicians from five municipal music schools in Barcelona.

The children’s choirs from EMM Can Fargues, EMM Can Ponsic, EMM Eixample – John Manuel Serrat, EMM Nou Barris and EMM Sant Andreu – Mestre Pich Santasusana will sing Christmas carols from all around the world on Carrer de la Marina in front of the Nativity façade.

MIDNIGHT MASS

Once again this year, on 24 December at 7:00 pm, the Sagrada Família will host a Midnight mass for the little ones to celebrate Christmas.

Afterwards, mass-goers will go outside for the adoration of the baby Jesus on the Nativity façade.

Here is no charge for attending mass but capacity is limited. The entrance to the Basilica is on the Nativity façade (Carrer de la Marina). 

WORKSHOP AT CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL: “WE’RE BUILDING THE TOWERS. WANT TO HELP?"

For the first time, the Basilica of the Sagrada Família will take part in the Festival de la Infància (Children’s Festival) taking place from 27 to 31 December at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc fairgrounds. The Sagrada Família will be offering a workshop called “We’re building the towers. Want to help?”, explaining the current status and the process of building the central towers. Participants can be builders for a day through a learning experience focusing on the central towers and making a replica of the star that tops the tower of the Virgin Mary, which they can take home as a souvenir. 

The workshop is included with tickets to the Festival de la Infància, which are available here: https://festivalinfancia.com.