Although mornings and evenings are cold in winter, midday temperatures are comfortable and the sun often puts in a lengthy appearance.

Navidad (Christmas): Plaza Mayor is taken over by stalls selling an vast array of festive decorations and a impressive Nativity crib, while the department store El Corte Inglés has a fantastic all-singing and dancing Christmas scene known as Cortylandia bedecking the façade on C/Maestro Victoria.

Noche Vieja (New Year's Eve): Madrileños traditionally gather in front of the clock tower on Puerta del Sol to celebrate the New Year. They come ready with a bag of grapes, swallowing one on each chime of midnight to bring luck for the new year.

Cabalgata de los Reyes (Cavalcade of the Three Kings), Jan 5th: a hugely popular procession through city centre to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings. The floats that follow the Magi are suitably impressive and their helpers toss sweets to the throngs of children lining the route. Spanish children receive their presents the following morning.