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Public Holidays in Spain & Catalonia

January

  • 1st – New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo) Family gatherings and fireworks to welcome the new year.
  • 6th – Epiphany (Día de los Reyes Magos) Traditional day for gift-giving; expect colorful parades and sweets everywhere.

March / April

  • Holy Week / Easter (Semana Santa) - Dates vary each year. Religious processions and public holidays — usually Good Friday and Easter Monday

May

  • 1st – Labour Day (Fiesta del Trabajo) - National holiday celebrating workers’ rights; demonstrations and open-air events.
  • (May or June – varies) – Segona Pasqua / Pentecosta (Local: Sabadell) Local Catalan celebration, often with music and cultural activities.

June

  • 24th – Sant Joan (St. John’s Day) The “Night of Fire”: bonfires, fireworks, and beach parties across Catalonia — marks the start of summer.

August

  • 15th – Assumption of the Virgin (Asunción de la Virgen) Mid-summer religious holiday — many locals are on vacation, cities are quieter.

September

  • First Monday of September – Festa Major de Sabadell (Local) The city’s biggest celebration — concerts, food stalls, parades, and fireworks.
  • 11th – La Diada de Catalunya (Catalonia’s National Day) Cultural and political events throughout Catalonia celebrating regional identity.

October

  • 12th – Spain’s National Day (Día de la Hispanidad) Military parades in Madrid and official celebrations across the country.

November

  • 1st – All Saints’ Day (Día de Todos los Santos) Families visit cemeteries and remember loved ones; traditional sweets called panellets are eaten in Catalonia.

December

  • 6th – Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución Española) Celebrates Spain’s democratic constitution (1978).
  • 8th – Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción) Religious holiday; many people take a “long weekend” trip (puente).
  • 25th – Christmas Day (Navidad) Family meals, gifts, and traditional Catalan Christmas figures (Tió de Nadal).
  • 26th – St. Stephen’s Day (Sant Esteve) (Catalonia) Celebrated mainly in Catalonia; families eat canelons made from Christmas leftovers.