MADRID – The national holidays for Spaniards were published in the Spanish Official Gazette on Thursday through an official resolution of the Directorate-General of Labour.
There are twelve public holidays in 2022, one more than in 2021. Eight of these are celebrated nationwide. They are:
- Saturday 1 January: New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)
- Thursday 6 January: Epiphany (Día de los Reyes Magos)
On January 6, we celebrate the Biblical event that the wise men from the East saw a rising star and followed it to find the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. On this day, the children receive gifts from the Three Wise Men. The evening before, on January 5, in many villages and towns Cabalgatas de Reyes Magos take place, the Epiphany processions.
April and August
- Friday 15 April: Good Friday (Viernes Santo)
- Monday 15 August: Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Asunción de la Virgen)
This day is also known as Our Lady’s Ascension. This bank holidays also has its origins in the Catholic Church. It is the day on which the Assumption of Mary into heaven with body and soul is commemorated and celebrated.
October and November
- Wednesday 12 October: Spanish National Holiday (Fiesta Nacional de España)
On 12 October, Spain celebrates the Fiesta Nacional de España or the Día de Hispanidad. This day celebrates the arrival of Cristobal Colón, or Columbus, on the American continent on 12 October 1492.
- Tuesday 1 November: All Saints’ Day (Día de Todos los Santos)
Almost all of Catholic Spain celebrates the Día de todos los Santos on 1 November, the day when the dead are honoured. Entire families visit the graves of deceased acquaintances, relatives or other loved ones to lay flowers.
- Tuesday, 6 December: Spanish Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución Española)
This day celebrates the establishment of the 1978 Constitution (also known as Carta Magna). An important milestone for Spain, as three years after the death of the dictator, democracy was finally re-established in Spain.
- Thursday 8 December: Immaculate Conception (Día de la Inmaculada Concepción)
This celebration commemorates the Immaculate Conception that took place nine months before the birth of Mary, on 8 September.
Good to remember: during public holidays across Spain, government offices, banks, many supermarkets and most shops are closed.
Differences per autonomous region
There are also four common feast days that are not necessarily celebrated in all autonomous communities:
- Thursday 14 April: Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo)
- Monday 2 May: the Monday following 1 May, Labour Day (Lunes posterior a la Fiesta del Trabajo)
- Monday 25 July: Apostle James Day (Día de Santiago Apostol)
On this day, the King or a representative of the royal family traditionally makes an offering at mass. When the feast day of Saint James’ Apostle falls on a Sunday, 25 July, Santiago de Compostela’s cathedral is crowded with tourists, pilgrims and locals. This is when the Catholic Church celebrates a so-called ‘holy Compostela year’.
- Monday 26 December: Boxing Day or Monday after Christmas (Lunes posterior al día de Navidad, Natividad del Señor)
In addition to these national holidays, there are also numerous regional and local holidays that vary from state to state and municipality to municipality and all autonomous regions have their own special days.