I thought the number of people out in Madrid centre last night was bad enough. But it seems Malaga is similarly affected...

https://twitter.com/Diario_SUR/statu.../photo/1/large

Best if you do any Christmas shopping in the morning, looks like evenings are going to be a huge squeeze...

But the thousands there last night weren't there just to do normal Christmas shopping, were they - they were there to see the switching on of the Christmas lights.

You try walking past them to get to the shops!
It was actually quite worrying trying to cross Gran Via last night - the crowds of people were spilling onto the road - and the street was full of moving traffic. Like Oxford Street in London you fear for people's safety.
Edit: Just remembered yesterday was "Black Friday" - and a lot of outlets like ECI had special deal promotions, so that could well have added to the crowds.

If you pick that one night of the year when the streets are full for the big switch on as your Christmas shopping night then you have only yourself to blame.

Crowded in Madrid centre this morning too - according to what someone's just told me.

Are you crazy?

From what I've seen and experience, most Spaniards do their Xmas shopping actually after Dec 25th because children get most of their presents on Reyes on 6th Jan

It is still way to early for most Spaniards to even start Xmas shopping. Things will start to pick up around the weekend of the 14th or maybe even the 21st!

Not crazy - shops, streets etc have been packed this weekend in Madrid. Same in the Rastro, Plaza Mayor, Sol areas on Sunday... i remarked to my partner how packed a lot of the bars were. Probably everyone enjoying the sunshine - isn't it a long holiday next weekend ie people go away ???

The Black Friday deals ran all weekend

I was coming back from Malaga airport last night, and was surprised by the number of families getting on the bus at the Malaga port stop, obviously been in the city to see the Christmas lights and shopping, I've never seen it so busy at 8.30pm on a Sunday before.

and until the 02nd at Media Mart. Got a great deal on a Sony Blu Ray player

Looks like my hometown of Manchester when the Christmas markets are on. Mmmmmm mulled wine

Maybe they're all expats then.

I suspect they were out to look at the Xmas lights rather than shopping

I live in the very centre of Oviedo on the main shopping street. I have the pleasure of looking at shoppers every day. Although, of course another answer is that people behave differently in different region. Possibly

That's where I've just spent the weekend - the city looked very nice at night (starting from 4pm when it gets dark) and the markets looked very busy - they seem to get bigger every year. It was a shame I had to watch where I was walking on the Sunday morning to skirt around the pools of vomit, however. Not very attractive at all. Pity they couldn't have got around to cleaning it up before 11am.