Carme Noguera, the oldest woman in Catalonia: "I ask the King and Queen for health and to make me a little younger!"

"Whether or not I'm the oldest person in Spain makes no difference to me," says Carme Noguera. historical nurse At 111 years old, she doesn't place much importance on the title of oldest person in the State, which was recently taken from her by a 112-year-old neighbor from León. Although she remains the oldest in Catalonia, there's another recognition she's recently received that excites her even more: becoming a great-grandmother. When asked about it, she smiles and confesses that "he's been a very bright child since he was born, and being a great-grandmother is wonderful," and she can't resist sharing a few anecdotes about the boy. In fact, Carme is a very family-oriented woman, and as every year, she plans to celebrate Christmas with her loved ones. "I don't organize anything; my daughter is being looked after now," she says, but she acknowledges that there are some traditions that are essential for her during this special time of year. "Every year we eat cannelloni for Saint Stephen's Day, we make the Tió de Nadal (a traditional Catalan Christmas log) 'poop,' and we receive a visit from the Three Kings," she says. However, Carme confesses that what she likes most is the galets stew with a meatball, so they must prepare it year after year without fail. Christmas is a special time for this centenarian, and when Dolors, her daughter, reminds her of the highlight of these days, her face lights up: "Núria, my eldest granddaughter, is coming back from Brussels! We love each other very much." She explains that she has been living away for a long time and, as happens in many homes, these days are also a time for reunions, which is what Carme is most looking forward to. A Christmas with new traditions

The daughter takes out her phone and starts playing a video. It shows a group of elderly people singing a Christmas carol together. The mother's boyAnd in the foreground appears Carmen, wearing a necklace and a blouse perfect for the occasion. It seems, then, that it's never too late to adopt new Christmas traditions. "It was her first concert with the residence choir," explains Dolors. The residents meet once a week to rehearse, but this was Carmen's first performance in front of an audience. "I really enjoyed it, and I wasn't nervous at all," she says proudly.

Although Carme celebrates Christmas with enthusiasm, for her the main celebration always falls on August 22nd, her birthday. "On that day, there wouldn't be room for anyone else at home," her daughter jokes. When she turned 110, she had four different celebrations: one with her family, one with her doctors, one with her friends, and the last with her English classmates, a language she continued learning until she was 105. This curiosity and constant learning have been two key driving forces in reaching her centenary with a clear mind, but she confesses that she still has some unfinished business. "When I was little, the Three Kings brought me a toy piano. I was thrilled, but I would have preferred a real one so I could learn to play it," she explains. She has very fond memories of Christmases during her childhood. She says that back then she used to make the Tió de Nadal (a traditional Catalan Christmas log) "poop"—although it carried food and not toys like now—and that the sign that there were presents under the blanket was hearing a bottle of champagne being uncorked. The Three Kings' Parade would pass by her house, and the children would wait for it with lanterns in hand. Her family also had the custom of setting up a very elaborate nativity scene. The biggest change for Carme, when comparing Christmas at the beginning of the 20th century with today, is her family, because "now the parents are no longer here," but she has welcomed children and grandchildren who celebrate it with her.

A 2025 marked by a hospital stay

This year hasn't been easy for Carme, who had to spend four months in the hospital after her health deteriorated following a fall. During this time, she says the doctors at Vall d'Hebron Hospital were her "guardian angels," and both she and Dolors are full of praise for the medical team at the center. Her daughter believes that doctors at other hospitals didn't want to operate on her because of ageism. "They only looked at the age on her ID card and didn't consider her good health. The operation saved her life," she says.

The hospitalization meant she had to slow down her social life, but even now she enjoys sharing anecdotes and jokes whenever she has the chance. And what did Catalonia's oldest woman ask the Three Wise Men for this year? "That they bring me health, strength, and make me a little younger!" she says. And if she had to give the key to reaching 111 years old, Carme Noguera is clear: "You have to eat little, sleep a lot, have a sense of humor, and above all, not die."