What do people in Spain do after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve?

Traditional Roman Catholic families in Spain feast after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This feast follows a fast earlier in the day. Traditional foods include almond soup, sweet potatoes or pumpkin, roasted turkey or suckling pig, seafood and baked red cabbage.

Less traditional or nonreligious families feast before midnight mass or forgo mass altogether. Most families and gatherings of friends feast on sweets, such as nougats, marzipan and crumbly cakes. The feast also includes dates, nuts, cheeses, hams and pates, late into the night. Bonfires and visiting are common among young adults. Some adults exchange presents, but children do not receive gifts until Epiphany on January 6.