National holidays in Spain

If there's one thing everyone takes a look at at least once a year, it's the days they can bask during this time and how to spend a long weekend in the sun.

Why would we depart from this rule because we decided to emigrate to Spain?

Especially since there are national holidays, which concern the whole country and regional or local holidays, which only concern a region or a city.

New Year's Day: January 1

Nothing exceptional you will tell me. Celebrating the New Year is common in most countries. But the Año Nuevo from Spain has its own tradition: that of the 12 grapes. This dates from 1909 and consists of eating a grape at each stroke of the bell to signify that it is midnight, as a sign of luck for the new year.

Epiphany: January 6

The “Día de Reyes” is celebrated the day after the Three Kings parade. Unlike France, the epiphany begins on January 5 with the parade of coaches (cabalgatas) that roam the streets. Treats are distributed to children and gifts placed under each tree to open them the next morning, January 6.

Holy Week

The Semana Santa does not have fixed dates but allows you to take advantage of a long 4-day weekend to celebrate the most important feast of Christianity, celebrated throughout Spain, and commemorating the resurrection of Christ. It always takes place in early spring, between Lent and Easter. Many processions and parades of different brotherhoods then enliven the streets.

Labor Day: May 01

As in France and many other countries in the world, the Spanish take advantage of May 1 to rest. This day has been a public holiday and has been paid since 1947 in commemoration of the riots of Saturday, May 1, 1886 in Chicago, in the United States, where employees began an unprecedented strike to demand an 8-hour working day for all workers.

Feast of Saint John: June 24

To celebrate Saint John's Day, each city has its own customs but all the same they have in common the lighting of a wood pyre that burns to celebrate, a few days before the summer solstice, the light of summer.

Assumption: August 15

Religious holiday, August 15 celebrates the ascent to heaven of Mary.

Fiesta Nacional de España y día de la Hispanidad: October 12

As its name suggests, this day commemorates the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, October 12, 1492. This day has an equivalent in the United States, Columbus Day (second Monday of October) and in America Latin under the name of Día de la Raza (Day of the Race).

In terms of festivity, we are getting closer to French July 14 with military parades and demonstrations of air patrols.

Day of the constitution: December 6

December 6 commemorates the approval by the 1978 referendum of the current Spanish constitution, which governs all the country's institutions as well as the rights and duties of citizens.