December brings Christmas to the province of Malaga and most of the towns in the province offer activities to enjoy with family or friends these days. From the amazing light and sound shows of Málaga capital to the living nativity scenes, there are many proposals so that you can enjoy Christmas in Malaga to the fullest.

Christmas lights and atmosphere in Málaga capital

Without a doubt, the best of the proposals to enjoy Christmas in Malaga. For 3 years, Malaga competes with the big cities around the world to offer a spectacular Christmas. This year, the lighting located in the central Calle Larios recreates a Christmas Forest, designed to be enjoyed not only when it is on, but also in broad daylight, thanks to the impressive golden structure of arches, angels, suns and autumn leaves, as well as the multiple figures that dot the 22 semicircular arches that run along the central Malaga street. The light and sound show (with Christmas classics like ‘All I want for Christmas is you’, by Mariah Carey; ‘Jingle bell rock’, by Hilary Duff; or ‘Málaga sings’, the title of the carol composed for the Escolanía de Sierra Blanca-El Romeral) is repeated three times a day, at 18.30, 20.00 and 21.30.

Two more light and sound shows join the classic lighting of Larios Street this year: a video mapping in La Alcazaba and the Enchanted Tree in the Alameda Principal. The Alcazaba is seen three times a day, it is a video-mapping montage that tells a beautiful Christmas story (at 18.45, 20.00 and 21.30).

In the pedestrian zone of the Alameda Principal you can enjoy the projection of the show ‘The enchanted tree’ in which one of the Alameda specimens will come alive. This show will be at 19.15, 21.00 and 22.15.

The Christmas Market in Malaga joins the Paseo del Parque and the Plaza de la Marina as well as numerous proposals in the districts of the capital that you can consult on the website of the City of Malaga.

Nativity Museum

The Nativity Museum, located in Malaga, in the town of Mollina , is an international benchmark of Belenista Art. The museum, open all year, gathers nativity scenes in places as unusual as the “Roman Theater of Cartagena”, the “favelas of Rio de Janeiro” or the Church of Our Lady of Remedies of Antequera, the Patio de los Leones de la Alhambra or the Burgos Cathedral. The Nativity Museum is divided into two zones. The main one is the interior area where the more than 60 artistic nativity scenes are exhibited. The tour is complemented by an outdoor exhibition area of arts and customs with farm implements, two oil mills and the representation of a popular Andalusian house. This visit has been an essential for enjoying a Christmas in Malaga for two years.

More information and tickets at http://www.museodebelenes.com/

Antequera and the monacal pastry

Without a doubt, the sweetest Christmas in Malaga is experienced in Antequera. Antequera is famous for its mantecados and sweets of convent, with which its rich cultural heritage joins one more reason to visit and savor it.

In the Barrio de Santiago is the Convent of Belén , where since 1859 the Poor Clares religious have maintained the oldest monacal candy factory that is preserved in Antequera. Throughout the year, they make delicious oil donuts, muffins, biscuits and, above all, bienmesabe, the exquisite local dessert that gives the nuns great fame to be a sought after piece any day of the year. At Christmas, they expand their production by 9,000 kilos, based on polvorones, mantecados, alfajores and roscos de vino, which add to the annual products.

Living nativity scenes

One of the Christmas traditions of excellence is the decoration of Bethlehem when Christmas arrives. In towns like Almayate, the celebration of the Living Bethlehem has a trajectory of about 20 years thanks to the work they do from different groups of this district of Vélez-Málaga. With representations on December 28 and 29, the entrance to the enclosure is limited to 900 people and the representation has the collaboration of more than 200 neighbors.

The Barrio de Casas Nuevas de Álora also works every year to offer its Living Bethlehem, with a market of artisan products, hot chocolate and pastoral activities. This year, the Bethlehem will be held on December 7 and 8.

The Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus Nazareno of Alhaurín el Grande also celebrates his Living Nativity every year, which this year will take place on December 15 and will have the participation of fifty children in the Plaza de San Sebastián.

Christmas markets

There are many Christmas markets that are celebrated throughout the province. Places where you can buy Christmas decorations, crafts and typical products of these dates such as mantecados, polvorones, borrachuelos or pestiños. Arroyo de la Miel, Estepona, Fuengirola, Antequera or Álora offer these days Christmas markets where leisure and shopping come together to enjoy Christmas in Malaga to the fullest.

If you want to know about more things to do as a family this Christmas, do not miss our post about Plans with children on the Costa del Sol.