Majorcan Christmas: fried goat, panettone, tamales and Christmas pudding

Diversity is the hallmark of an island where different cultures blend a rich array of flavors during the holidays.

Christmas in Fuerteventura can no longer be understood without its diversity. In recent decades, the island’s traditional Majorero customs have been enriched by the customs brought by Italian, Latin American, British and other communities—from the rest of Spain and beyond—creating a multicultural celebration far removed from what it looked like only a few decades ago.

In Majorero households, Christmas still preserves deeply rooted symbols: the nativity scene takes a central place, accompanied by carols, family gatherings and traditional dishes such as fried kid goat, roasted pork leg, and homemade sweets like “truchas” (sweet pastries made with sweet potato, pumpkin or angel hair).

Parishes hold the Midnight Mass, but almost every town lights up with decorations from other latitudes, and Christmas trees and Santa Claus have become part of the festive imagination of the island’s children.

Latin American Influence

In recent years, the Latin community—mainly from Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba—has become a prominent presence on the island. For many, Christmas is a deeply family‑oriented and emotional celebration marked by music, dance and food.

Typical dishes now appear on shared tables and neighbourhood gatherings:

• Hallacas
• Lechón (roast pork)
• Tamales
• Christmas rice

Latin rhythms provide the soundtrack to community events, allowing expatriates to recreate their traditions and share them with other cultures despite the distance from their homelands.

Italian Contribution

Italian residents, especially in Corralejo and Caleta de Fuste, bring a Christmas that revolves around the table. The “Cena de Nochebuena” (Christmas Eve dinner) now often includes:

• Fresh pasta
• Fish dishes
• Sweets such as panettone

These meals are increasingly shared in neighbourhood gatherings and collective celebrations. For many Italians, spending Christmas under the Atlantic sun does not mean abandoning their traditions; rather, they adapt them to a new, nearby environment.

British Traditions

The British community keeps alive customs such as the traditional Christmas Day lunch, featuring turkey, vegetables and Christmas pudding. Bars and island associations organise festive meet‑ups where English carols mingle with local holiday rituals, creating a uniquely island‑wide experience.

Institutional Support

Municipalities and social groups have reflected this diversity in Christmas markets, concerts and children’s activities, where multiple languages are heard and traditions from several countries are celebrated.

“Christmas in Fuerteventura is a reflection of who we are: an open island where different cultures coexist with respect,” say event organisers in Morro Jable.

Thus, between nativity scenes, hallacas, panettone and Christmas crackers, the island celebrates a shared holiday. It demonstrates that Majorero identity is evolving in a place where the population continues to grow, arriving from many corners of the globe, bringing equal parts diversity and gastronomy.

The Muslim Community

The Muslim community participates but does not celebrate Christmas

While the Muslim community—an active part of daily life on the island—does not observe Christmas as a religious holiday, it respectfully joins the festive atmosphere by sharing public spaces, markets and community activities.

For many Muslim families, this period is an opportunity to reinforce common values such as solidarity, respect and coexistence, especially through social actions, neighbourly support and intercultural gatherings. Associations highlight that this coexistence is based on mutual recognition and the normalisation of cultural and religious diversity.