Holidays and traditions in Spain

The fixed national holidays: New Year (1 January), the Feast of the Three Kings (6 January), Labour Day (1 May), the Assumption (15 August), the National Day (12 October), All Saints' Day (1 November), Constitution Day (6 December), the Immaculate Conception (8 December), and Christmas (25 December).

• Good Friday and sometimes Maundy Thursday or Easter Monday are added depending on the region.
• Each region adds two or three of its holidays, and each municipality sets two local days.
• If a holiday falls on a weekday it may be moved to Monday.
• Most shops, banks and offices close on holidays, so check your region's official calendar before planning your appointments, and on-duty pharmacies and hospitals keep working.

The atmosphere of Christmas (Navidad) begins early with lights and markets, and Nochebuena, Christmas Eve (24 December), is celebrated with a big family dinner and songs (villancicos), and Navidad on Christmas Day with a family lunch.

• And on 28 December is the Día de los Santos Inocentes which resembles April Fools' Day.
• On Nochevieja (31 December) twelve grapes are eaten with the midnight chimes (las doce uvas) for luck.
• And on 6 January the Día de los Reyes Magos children celebrate the gifts that the Three Kings bring, and the roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake, is eaten.
• Parades (Cabalgata) are held on the evening of 5 January.
• And for children gifts are given especially on Kings' Day more than Christmas in many families.
• And the school holiday continues from December until after 6 January.

Holy Week (Semana Santa) before Easter is one of the most important occasions: solemn religious processions (procesiones) in which participants carry statues on their shoulders, especially in Seville, Málaga, Granada and Castile, and a holiday extending from Thursday to Monday, and many travel.

• In Valencia the Fallas are held in March with the burning of huge statues, in Pamplona San Fermín in July with the running of the bulls, in Seville the April Fair (Feria de Abril) with flamenco dress, in Buñol the Tomatina in August, in Catalonia Sant Jordi (23 April) with exchanging roses and books, and in Galicia and Asturias their own festivals.
• And carnivals (carnavales) are held before Lent, the most famous in Cádiz and Tenerife.
• Follow your municipality's calendar and take part since festivals are a wonderful chance to get acquainted.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are not general public holidays in Spain, but the agreement between the state and the Islamic Commission (Comisión Islámica) gives Muslims the right to be excused from work and study on the day of Eid under conditions, and includes their right to a halal meal in public institutions and facilities for prayer.

• Request leave early from your manager or school mentioning the agreement if needed.
• Eid prayers are held in mosques and large halls, and celebrations and bazaars are held in some cities, and families celebrate with sweets, visits and gifts for children.
• You are told Feliz fin del Ramadán or Eid Mubarak, and you may invite your neighbours and colleagues to sweets and they welcome it. And during Ramadan you can explain kindly to colleagues that you are fasting, and they often understand.
• And Eastern Christians and Jews have their respected festivals.

Before long holidays such as Christmas and Holy Week many offices close and roads, airports and trains become crowded and travel prices rise, so complete your paperwork and shopping before them, book doctor's appointments early and buy your needs a day before the holiday since shops close.

• In August many companies and small shops close, and folk celebrations are held in villages.
• When invited to a celebration or feast bring a small gift and be flexible about time, and you may kindly decline anything that conflicts with your belief while suggesting an alternative.
• Your participation in processions, markets, dancing and eating is appreciated.
• And say ¡Feliz Navidad!
• and ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
• to those you know.
• And social participation in occasions does not mean adopting a belief.

When does Spain celebrate the Three Kings?