Is Christmas Day a Public Holiday in Andorra?
Christmas Day is a public holiday for the general population according to Andorra Holidays 2020. This means, offices, colleges, schools, universities, and several other academic institutions remain closed on this day.
Christmas Day in Andorra: Local Christmas Traditions
Christmas in Andorra is a public holiday, and both locals and tourists come together to make the most of this event. Below are some ideas to celebrate Christmas Day in Andorra:
- Pay a visit to the Father Christmas
- Have a hearty Christmas meal with family and loved ones. Some of the popular Andorran dishes include Escudella, Christmas Pudding, Christmas Crackers, Cookies and much more.
- Be a part of the crowd at the Christmas Markets.
- Enjoy the natural and scenic beauty of the Andorran mountains by skiing on Christmas Day in Andorra.
Tió de Nadal or Caga Tió
Long before Father Christmas, it was Caga Tió, also known as Tió de Nadal, who was responsible for bringing gifts to the children in Andorra. It was believed that on December 08, he was brought inside the house, looked after by the kids and fed wholeheartedly. Caga Tió is represented by a wooden log with two wooden legs, a cheery face, a blanket draped over him and a traditional red-coloured Catalan hat. In today’s times, the kids say their prayers or warm their sticks by the fire in the kitchen while their parents place the gifts under Caga Tió’s blanket. Eventually, they come out and sing traditional songs. It is then Caga Tió “poops out” Christmas gifts to the kids.
The Caganer
The Caganer is represented by a figurine, mostly a peasant, squatting down with the intention of defecating. It is believed to bring fertility, luck and fortune and is seen tugged away at the back of the Nativity Scenes.
Nativity Scenes
Nativity scenes are performed and erected around the country during Christmas, where viewers can see the countryside and the city of Bethlehem. Two most famous and grand Nativities are:
- The giant Nativity scene in Canillo
- The Living Nativity Scene in Escaldes-Engordany
Christmas Day Observances
| Year | Weekday | Date | Name | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Wed | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 2020 | Fri | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 2021 | Sat | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 2022 | Sun | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 2023 | Mon | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 2024 | Wed | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
| 2025 | Thu | 25 December | Christmas Day | National Holiday |