UK and Spain

This page provides information about bank holidays in the UK, (public holidays in the UK), national fiestas in Spain and national holidays in Spain for 2009 and 2010.

Please note that Boxing Day is always on the 26th of December, the day after Christmas Day, however, if the 26th of December falls on a Saturday or Sunday, which it does in 2009, an extra holiday day is given on the following Monday. Therefore above you can see that the holiday given for Boxing Day 2009 is Monday the 28th of December.

Please note that Christmas Day is always on the 25th of December and Boxing Day is always on the 26th of December, however, if they fall on a Saturday and Sunday, extra holiday days are given on the following Monday and Tuesday. Therefore above you can see that the real Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Saturday the 25th of December and Sunday the 26th of December, but the holiday days given are Monday 27th and Tuesday the 28th of December.

Fiestas in Spain
Spain is well known for it’s fiestas and colourful parades, and most of them are well worth seeing. Below is a calendar of the National Fiestas (also known as Red Days), which shows a list of fiestas and their translation or UK equivalent. Remember that, unlike the UK where it has become the norm to open shops etc on a bank holiday the same as any other day, in Spain a National Fiesta is time for the whole nation to take the day off inc shops, banks and some cafes and bars, even if the fiesta falls in the middle of the week (which is normal). 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 i.e. the Monday or Friday or the middle day to link them together - this is called a ‘puente’ a bridge day.

The following are local holidays in their respective provinces:

Please find listed below, in alphabetical order, the local fiestas and festivals in some of the larger cities in Spain. Don’t forget that a local fiesta also means that some businesses will be shut! However, if you need some shopping etc. urgently you may be able to travel to another town, out of the immediate area, where this particular fiesta is not celebrated. Some local festivals last over several days and include parades, music, paella contests and many other fun activities. The Spanish love to eat and have fun together, and fiestas and festivals are ideal times where families and the community in general strengthen their bond of friendship by joining together in some of the above mentioned activities.

On the 23rd of April 2009 the festival of Santa Cruz is celebrated. The people of the district of Santa Cruz, which is situated on the slopes of mount Benacantil (within the Alicante city area), 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.).

There’s a programme of theatre, music, dance, street fairs for every weekend. The weekly markets are held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings on the banks of the River Ter.

Between the 24th October and the 2nd November Gerona celebrates it’s annual festival of San Narcis with musical performances, street fairs and markets. There are giant figures in processions and the traditional fire-run, etc. As well as a trade fair and fun fair, with various attractions. This is one of the liveliest fiestas in Girona, and a great occasion for the locals and visitors to enjoy.

During the festival of Corpus Christi there are many activities that take place in and around Granada, including flamenco dancing shows and
children’s entertainment for example, workshops and bouncy castles

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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.

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 Valencia (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.

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

April 23rd is Saint George's Day, who is the Patron Saint of the region 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).

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