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Updated December 2022.
Do you already know what you will do this New Year's Eve? As in the rest of the world, Christmas time is also coming in Girona and Costa Brava, and this means also the end of the year and the beginning of another one. It is time for closing items, for reflecting on what you have accomplished this past year, on what you are leaving behind, and visualising the purposes for the coming new year. All this is your job; what we can do for you is to show you 10 proposals to make the last and first day of the year an unforgettable experience!
1. Celebrate the New Year next to the Cathedral of Girona's staircase and its bells
The bells of the Cathedral of Girona accompany us every day from the Old Quarter. As is customary, every end of year, neighbors and curious people gather to eat the grapes to reach midnight with the sound of the Cathedral's bell. With the arrivining of the new year, begins the first concert of the night in the Old Quarter.
2. Run the Sant Silvestre Race
Sant Silvestre Race is celebrated in some cities on December 31st. In some parts of the Catalan Countries it is also called "Cursa dels Nassos", referring to the Home dels Nassos ("Man of the Noses"), the mysterious and mythical personage who has as many noses as days left to the end of the year and only goes out on the last day of the year when you only have one nose left.
3. See the first sun rise of the year from Cap de Creus
The inhabitants of Cap de Creus, in the municipality of Cadaqués, are lucky to be the first people in the whole Iberian Peninsula to see the sunrise, and for many years it has been a tradition to go to the lighthouse on the first day of the year to contemplate in group the first rays of sun of the new year that begins. When the sun is up, you can dance sardanes (traditional Catalan dance) and have breakfast with the popular hot chocolate!
4. Have the first massive swim of the year on St. Feliu de Guíxols beach
For the most daring and the ones who are not sensitive to cold, an interesting proposal that is celebrated every year on the beach of Sant Feliu de Guíxols: On January 1st at 13:00 the first swim of the year, followed by a large cup of hot soup or hot chocolate. Ideal to start the year more awake than ever!
5. See the first Pastorets of Girona performance of the year
A classic from the city of Girona. More than 150 people take part in it, performing 7 functions, full of special effects, music, songs, comics and interaction with the audience.
6. Go with friends to a country charming house
There is nothing better to spend the New Year around the warm of a fireplace, wit an spaceous dinning room and a well-decorated table. Toast in the best company and in a room where you can be together with the comfort of not having to take the car afterwards. In our houses you can live this experience and much more.
7. Dance sardanes at the Sant Sebastià lighthouse
Another way to welcome the year: dancing sardanes (traditional Catalan dance) waiting for the first ray of sunshine. Hundreds of people are gathering on the top of the mountain of Sa Guarda to receive the first day of the year dancing. The cold is usually intense, so if you decide to go, wrap yourself warm up!
8. Hot chocolate and churros breakfast
When you wake up on January 1st with the hangover of last night's party, what better than a hearty breakfast with hot chocolate with churros in the heat of the fireplace (if you have one).
9. Visit the living nativity scene in Pals
It is one of the most authentic in the region, as it is represented inside the Gothic quarter of the town. Walking through its streets you will feel like real shepherd in the middle of the various representations of trades and Christmas scenes. If you like living nativity scenes, you can't miss our post of the best living nativity scenes in Girona and the Costa Brava.
10. Swimming in the lake of Banyoles
Another proposal only for the most daring: a good swim in the lake of Banyoles to start the year well awake and healthy. Of course, if you dare it, have some thermos with a hot drink for getting warm once you go out of the water! A walking tour around the Banyoles Lake is also a good way to start the new year to burn off the excesses of the last few days.
With these 10 proposals that we make for the New Year eve, surely the entrance to the new year from Girona and Costa Brava will be unforgettable! Health and Happy New Year!