* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia

In this photo report in La Vanguardia Readers’ Photos we can see how the Christmas spirit lights up in Girona when the sun sets and it gets dark.

There is an atmosphere of conviviality, with the city already immersed in the preparations for the Christmas holidays. The decorations invite you to take out your cell phone to take photos and families immortalize these moments with their children between smiles.

And there are still attractions to come. For example, the Girona ice rink is one of the largest in Catalonia. Located inside the Palau de Fires, it will have 900 square meters and will open from December 23 to January 7. It is accompanied by a 27 meter long slide and three lanes to go down on a sled.

Now, this year, in a context of drought, the Girona ice rink will be thinner to reduce water use by 40%. Of the 80,000 liters that were used in a normal situation, this Christmas it is estimated that the figure will be reduced to 48,000.

In addition, there will be other news. The City Council will place speakers to be able to follow the New Year’s Eve bells from the Cathedral and Apòstols squares. The council hopes to ensure that the residents who will gather there to welcome 2024 can hear the bells perfectly.

It is one of the novelties of the 356 activities organized by the City Council and by different entities in the city for this Christmas. One of the most anticipated for children and adults is the parade of the Three Wise Men, which this year will be repeated with Their Majesties Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar forming part of the route with pedal floats and the other half on foot.

All the activities have been collected in a booklet that is distributed throughout public facilities and schools in the city. Among the children’s and family activities, the third edition of the Gran Festa del Tió in the Jardins de les Pedreres stands out. The little ones will be able to make a mess and also enjoy the construction workshop, the hot chocolate and the children’s performance by Jaume Barri.

During this month of December, the Giant Uncle will move through different places in the city: Plaza de Pere Calders de Can Gibert del Pla (December 13), Calle de Baix de Santa Eugènia (December 14), Plaza de Miquel de Palol de la Devesa-Güell (December 16), the Plaza de l’Om de Pont Major (December 19), the Onyar Civic Center in Vila-roja (December 20) and the Calle de Jocs Olímpics in Palau- sacosta (December 21). In parallel, different workshops will be held.

Another high point of the program will be the inauguration of the Girona City Council nativity scene on December 15. The event will start at six in the afternoon with the Mula Baba walk, which will go from Plaza U d’Octubre del 2017 to Plaza del Vi. In addition, the La Carbonera space will host the 38th Exposició de Pessebres, from December 16, 2023 to January 7, 2024.