Blog
26/11/2025
Christmas — one of the most special times of the year — is almost here. In the Basque Country, the smell of roasted chestnuts begins to fill our streets, families start thinking about traditional dishes, and we prepare ourselves to sing and enjoy this festive season.
At Nekatur, the association of rural accommodations in the Basque Country, we want to encourage you to experience these holidays in a different and authentic way by staying in one of our associated country homes. We invite you to leave behind the noise of the city and spend a few days in the Basque rural environment, where traditions come to life and every rural accommodation becomes a place to enjoy laughter and shared moments.
A lit fireplace, a table full of local products, and much more… Shall we tempt you?
In the Basque Country, we have plans for all tastes: if you are travelling as a couple, you can enjoy peaceful walks along beech forest paths, visit small Christmas markets, or relax by the fire in our rural accommodation.
Families and groups, on the other hand, will discover that the true magic of this season lies in the small details: gathering pine cones, seeing the Christmas lights of our villages, preparing a homemade cake together, or looking at the starry sky before going to sleep.
If, in addition to all this, you want to enjoy some of our most deep-rooted traditions, here we tell you all about them.
The official start of Christmas in the Basque Country is on 21 December. On this day, the Santo Tomás Fair (Santo Tomás Azoka) is celebrated in many towns across the Basque Country, with the most famous and crowded ones taking place in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa: San Sebastián, Bilbao, Azpeitia, Lekeitio, Errenteria, Irún, Hondarribia, Usurbil and Arrasate/Mondragón. In this last case, the fair is held on 22 December and is known as Santamasak.
But where does this tradition come from? Originally, the day of Santo Tomás was an agricultural fair in which the baserritarras (farmers and livestock breeders) travelled to the city to pay their annual rents, sell their best products, and make their final purchases before Christmas.
Today, the same rural essence and spirit remain: squares and streets fill with stalls offering farmhouse products, traditional music, animals, and, above all, a festive and family-friendly atmosphere.
Several rural accommodations will allow you to enjoy this eagerly awaited event for Basque people. Here you have our suggestion for staying in the rural areas of Gipuzkoa.
From 21 December onwards —and even earlier in some towns— it is common to see groups of friends, associations, neighbours, etc., who, accompanied by the txistu and tamboril, bring joy and fill the streets with Christmas spirit while singing traditional carols. Among them, the classics “Hator, hator”, “Olentzero” and “Din dan don” are never missing.
When it comes to traditional verses, we cannot forget the Marijesiak: groups of people who go around the villages at dawn singing verses about the birth of Jesus. This tradition begins on the ninth night before Christmas and continues for nine consecutive early mornings.
The Marijesiak are an institution in Gernika (Bizkaia), where their origins date back to the 17th century, although they can also be found in other villages in the Busturialdea region, as well as in Arratia and Zeberio.
Meanwhile, our boys and girls eagerly await the arrival of Olentzero, the kind-hearted charcoal maker who comes down from the mountains on 24 December to bring gifts, good wishes, and announce the birth of Jesus. He is one of the most beloved figures among children, even though they risk receiving coal if they have misbehaved during the year.
In many villages, local associations organise parades and performances to celebrate Olentzero’s arrival. Participants dress in traditional casero clothing, and together with the galtxagorri —tiny beings who assist Olentzero— they enliven the afternoon of 24 December.
If you want to discover all these mythological characters and many more, in Bizkaia you can visit Izenaduba Basoa (Mungia), the theme park dedicated to Basque mythology. It is the perfect excuse to stay in one of our associated rural accommodations in this province! Oh! And don’t forget to bring your written wishes to hand them to Olentzero in person.
The Nativity scene tradition is deeply rooted in the Basque Country, with displays both outdoors and inside museums and emblematic buildings. One of the most notable is the monumental Nativity scene in La Florida Park in Vitoria-Gasteiz, with more than 50 years of history, making it one of the oldest of its kind.
In addition, the Nativity route in the Basque capital invites visitors to explore numerous exhibitions in churches, parishes, and other locations around the city, including the Museum of the Lanterns and Santa María Cathedral.
Staying in Álava and heading to Rioja Alavesa, in Laguardia, every Christmas since the 18th century, a baroque mechanical Nativity scene can be visited in the Chapel of the Immaculate, inside the Church of Santa María de los Reyes. It is made up of 73 different pieces and is one of the few of its kind remaining in the world.
This is an excellent opportunity to explore the province of Álava and stay in one of Nekatur’s associated rural accommodations.
Beyond the New Year’s Eve celebrations on 31 December, which you can enjoy in every town and city in the Basque Country, two standout events take place on 1 January.
In Donostia–San Sebastián, locals traditionally take the first swim of the year on La Concha Beach on the morning of 1 January. Although it is not an official event, it is well worth going to watch — and why not, even joining the brave swimmers yourself!
And if dipping into the Cantabrian Sea doesn’t seem daring enough, as true mountain lovers, we also celebrate the new year by climbing one of our beloved peaks that same morning.
One of the most iconic is Mount Gorbea, between Álava and Bizkaia, standing at 1,482 metres. Since 1899, its summit has been crowned by a 17-metre-high metal cross, its most recognisable symbol. Hikers ascend Gorbea on 1 January and raise a toast at the foot of the cross to welcome the new year.
Of course, Christmas gastronomy also plays a very important role in our traditions. During these days, tables are filled with local products and traditional family recipes: bacalao al pil-pil, roasted sea bream, stuffed squid in black ink, txangurro, roast lamb, Basque cake, or intxaursaltsa (a walnut-based dessert) are just some of the dishes you can find in many of our restaurants.
All of this is accompanied by natural cider, a good txakoli, or a Rioja Alavesa wine. Because for us, sharing a meal is much more than just eating — and at Christmas, this is even more true.
This explains why, amidst the festive days, and almost as a kind of “cleansing ritual”, we also enjoy other traditional seasonal dishes such as cauliflower, a good battered vegetable stew, or porrusalda with cod.
What do you think of our Christmas customs and traditions? Experience them firsthand, or gift them to someone special with our Nekabonos or our Nekatxartela and discover Christmas in our rural surroundings.
There are 3 types of Nekabonos available, and in the case of the Nekatxartela, you choose the amount. All of them can be redeemed for stays throughout the year. The perfect Christmas gift!
Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the rural heart of Euskadi!
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