UKandSpain

UK National / Public holidays in the UK  -  2008
 

National Fiestas

Below is a list of the national fiestas in Spain, which are also the national holidays in Spain, including the English translation or UK equivalent. Remember that, unlike the UK, where it has become the norm to open shops etc on bank holidays the same as any other day, in Spain a National Fiesta is time for the whole nation to take the day off including shops, banks and most cafes and bars. This is even the same if the National Fiesta falls in the middle of the week. It's also worth knowing that where fiestas fall on Tuesdays or Thursdays, or when two fiestas fall in the same week separated by 1 day, some businesses choose to take an extra day as a holiday i.e. the Monday or Friday to join them to the weekend or the middle day to link two fiestas together - this is called a 'puente' a bridge day.

Spain National / Public holidays in Spain  -  2008

The following are local holidays in their respective provinces:

Alicante
April 13th, 17th and 27th, June 24th, October 9th

Cruces de Mayo - 1st of May to the 3rd of May
The people of the area of Santa Cruz, which is situated on the slopes of mount Benacantil, decorate their streets with crosses made of flowers, and participate in a competition to see which one is the best. During the festival certain streets are blocked off from traffic, and there’s open air dancing areas and children’s toys (e.g. bouncy castles etc.).

Barcelona
May 12th, June 24th, September 11th and 24th, December 26th

Gerona (also known as Girona)
July 25th, October 29th

Granada
January 2nd, February 28th, May 22nd, October 13th

The festival that is celebrated on the 22nd of May is in relation to the month long “las fiestas del Corpus 2008” program. There are many activities that take place in and around Granada, including:

Flamenco dancing show
At: Plaza de las Pasiegas
Day: 15 of May
Time: 21:30h

and

Childrens entertainment including workshops and bouncy castles
At: Plaza de Bibrambla
Days: from 19 to 25 of May
Time: from 11:30 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 19:30
 

Madrid
March 20th, May 2nd and 15th, July 25th, September 9th

Marbella
January 2nd, February 28th, April 13th, 2nd May, June 12th, October 19th
Events in Marbella:

6th of May
08:30 : Holy mass of the pilgrims is held in the Iglesia de la Encarnación (Church of the Incarnation). This is the ceremony to commemorate of the second leaving of the brotherhood of pilgrims.
11:30 : This ceremony continues at the “Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella” (market place and place of the congress of Marbella).

The October festival in Marbella usually follows the following itinerary. Nearer the time, the town hall will publish any amendments so keep an eye on this page for any changes for the fiestas in Marbella:

16 October
14.00. 'Great Traca' with rocket and ringing of bells at the Plaza de la Iglesia, announcing the start of the festivities in honor of Our Patron Saint San Pedro de Alcántara.
18.00 Procession of Giants and giant model heads accompanied by a band of Music. Itinerary .- Plaza de la Iglesia, Avda. Oriental, C/ Pepe Osorio, C/ Córdoba, Avda. Marques del Duero, C/ Jérez, Avda. La Constitución, C/ Esteban San Mateo, C/ Lagasca, C/ Hermán Cortés, C/ 19 Octubre, Avda. Oriental, ending at Plaza de la Iglesia.
19:00 Blessed Sacrament in San Pedro de Alcántara.
20:00 Eucharist in the Parish of San Pedro de Alcántara
21:00 Raising of flags of the Local Authorities, accompanied by the Municipal Band Music.
22:00 Fair and Fiestas de San Pedro Alcantara 2007, on the south beach (If weather causes could not be carried out in this place, the location will change to the Caseta Municipal).
23:00 Official launch of the Fairgrounds and Municipal Caseta by Local Authorities accompanied by the Municipal Band Music.  Election of "The Queen Popular" among the ladies who are in the Caseta Municipal, chosen for her qualities of grace and sympathy.  Then, Coronation of the Queens, young Princesses and Children.  After this, there will be dancing in the Municipal Caseta by the Orchestra.

17 October
09:00 Diana Floreada, firing rockets.
13:00 Fair Day in the Plaza de la Iglesia, Town Square of Istán, Avda.
17:00 Great party for children, in the Caseta Municipal:  Spend an unforgettable day with games, workshops and makeup. Loads of music, humor and adventure with Peter Pan in NeverNeverland, accompanied by Wendy, and Captain Hook.  Cake and refreshments for all children in attendance.
19:00 Marques del Duero y Plaza, and C / Dr. Esteban San Mateo - orchestra music.
22:00 In the area of the fairground there will be various activities for the youth of the area with concerts of local groups
22:00 Dancing in the Caseta Municipal to Orchestral music.
24:00 Great performance of Maria Villalon, winner of a UK TV singing contest, in the Municipal Caseta-Free entry.

18 October
09:00 Diana Floreada, firing rockets.
13:00 Fair day in the Plaza de la Iglesia, Town Square of Istán, Avda.
13:30 Lunch of the third age in the Caseta Municipal, with the great performance Fran Bravo. Then dance to orchestral music.
17:00 Cavalcade of great fair. Itinerary - Leaving C / San Javier, Eduardo Evangelista, Avda. La Constitución, C/ Jerez, C/ Lagasca, C/ Revilla, Avda. Oriental, C/ Pepe Osorio, C/ Córdoba, C/ Juan Fortuny, Avda. Oriental, C/ Fuente Nueva and ends in C/ Castilla.
20:00 Marques del Duero y Plaza, and C / Dr. Esteban San Mateo - orchestra music.
22:00 In the area of the fairground there will be various activities for the youth of the area with concerts of local groups

19 October
09:00 Diana Floreada firing rockets.
11:00 Solemn Mass in the Church of St. Peter of Alcantara.
12:30 Procession Our Patron Saint "San Pedro de Alcántara," accompanied by the Municipal Band Music. Itinerary .- Plaza de la Iglesia, C / Revilla, C / Lagasca, C / Jerez, C / Marques del Duero, C / Hernan Cortes, C / 19 de Octubre, Avda. Oriental, Plaza de la Iglesia and return to their Temple.
22:00 In the area of the fairground there will be various activities for the youth of the area with concerts of local groups
22:00 Dancing in the Caseta Municipal to Orchestral music.
24:00 Concert in Caseta Municipal singer Manuel Carrasco

20 October
09:00 Diana Floreada, firing rockets.
11:00 Contests and traditional games, in the Plaza de la Iglesia. (registration.- An hour before the start of the contest).
13:00 Fair day - Avda. Marques del Duero, Plaza de la Marques del Duero, Plaza de la
Iglesia and Plaza del Pueblo de Istán.
17:00 Gran Corrida de Toros - Bull fight. Whist the Fiestas de San Pedro Alcantara 2007, a bull ring (Plaza de Toros) is installed on the plot next to the Palacio de Deportes.
19:00 Schools of Dance in the Caseta Municipal.
22:00 In the area of the fairground there will be various activities for the youth of the area with concerts of local groups
22:00 Dancing in the Caseta Municipal to Orchestral music.
24:00 Concert in Caseta

21 October
09:00 Diana Floreada, firing rockets.
12.00 to 19.00. Fair day Avda. Marques del Duero, Plaza de la Iglesia y Plaza del Pueblo de Istán
22:00 In the area of the fairground there will be various activities for the youth of the area with concerts of local groups
22:00 Dancing in the Caseta Municipal to Orchestral music.

Salamanca
April 13th and 24th, June 12th, July 25th, September 8th

Sevilla (also known as Seville)
January 2nd, February 28th, April 13th, May 30th, June 15th

On the May 30th, Seville celebrates a local fiesta, Día de San Fernando (San Fernando Day). This fiesta is to remember the King, who was made a saint, who conquered the city. It is celebrated with a procession using a statue that belonged to King San Fernando.

Valencia
January 22nd, March 24th, March 31st, October 9th

The 17th January doesn't warrant a day off, but is a special day in the local's diary. It's the day when people go with their pets to receive a blessing from San Antonio Abad. There is a grand procession, and then the distribution of the blessed bread to all those present.

The 22nd January is the Patron Saint's Day for the Valencia’s (San Vicente). By the order of Emperor Diocleciano, in the year 304, Vicente, who was a young deacon at the time, was martyred in Valencia. In honour of this martyr (Vicente), he was named the Patron Saint of Valencia. Vicente is not only the Patron Saint of Valencia, but is also the Patron Saint of the Guild of Tailors and Dressmakers.

Zaragoza
January 29th, March 5th, April 23rd, October 10th to 14th.

23 April
Saint George, The Patron Saint of Aragon
In the streets of Zaragoza there are concerts, dancing and open-air performances to celebrate this festival. Also there are guided tours around the Pignatelli Building (the buildings of the government of Aragón), the Armijo Palace (the Magistrate of Aragón), and the home of the Cortes de Aragón in the Aljafería Palace.
On Saturday and Sunday mornings during spring there are sports and recreational activities, musical performances and children’s activities, laid on by the town hall, which are held in the municipal parks (especially the Primo de Rivera park).

March 5th
One of the most popular fiestas in Zaragoza is the festival of the Cincomarzada. The fiesta is to remember the invasion of the city of Zaragoza by the Carlist troops on March the 5th, 1838.