NATIONAL FESTIVALS IN SPAIN
JANUARY New Year’s Day: The day of the Three Wise Men: - January 1st - The new calendar starts and Spanish people celebrate it having a family lunch together. The day of the Three Wise Men: - January 6th - On the night of the 5th, the children all over Spain can’t sleep, waiting for the presents which the Three Wise Men will leave for them.
FEBRUARY Carnival Time: - Immediately before the period of Lent. - People dress up and go on processions, and groups of friends get together to sing funny songs about current events.
MARCH Father’s Day: - March 19th. - People give presents to their fathers, honouring the fathers of the world.
APRIL Easter: Holy Thursday: Palm Sunday: - The First Sunday of the Easter period. - It commemorates the arriving of Jesus in Jerusalem. Holy Thursday: - It commemorates the Last Supper and the first eucharist. In Spain people go on processions.
Good Friday: - It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. Easter Sunday: - People in Spain celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion.
MAY Labour Day: - May 1st. - Spanish people have a day off work and in some cities there are processions and peaceful marches. Mother’s Day: - The first Sunday of May. - Spanish people give presents to their mothers to celebrate this day.
JUNE Saint Marcelino’s Day: - June 6th. - It’s the day of Saint Marcelino Champagnat, the founder of our school, and we celebrate it with a family party in our school.
JULY Day of the Apostle Santiago. - July 25th. - He is the patron of Spain. - Hundreds of pilgrims arrive in the north of the country to walk to Santiago de Compostela.
AUGUST Assumption of Mary: - August 15th. - It commemorates the ascending of the Virgin Mary into Heaven when she died.
SEPTEMBER Day of Extremadura: - September 8th. - This is Extremadura´s regional day. Our city of Badajoz forms part of this region . It is a holiday and some cultural events are celebrated.
OCTOBER El día de la Hispanidad: - October 12th. - This is the national day of Spain and a national holiday that commemorates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ first arrival in America. . It´s also Spain's Day of the Armed Forces, celebrated each year with a military parade in Madrid, presided over by the Spanish King.
NOVEMBER All Saints’ Day: - November 1st. - It is a national holiday in honour of all the Saints. All Souls’ Day: - November 2nd. - Spanish people visit the graves of their beloved and leave flowers there.
DECEMBER Day of the Spanish Constitution: - December 6th. - A national day in all Spain that commemorates the day that the constitution was approved in Spain. The Immaculate Conception: - December 8th. - It is the day when we celebrate that the Virgin Mary was free of sin.
DECEMBER New Year’s Eve: Christmas Eve: - December 31st. - December 24th. - Families meet and have dinner all together. Christmas Day: - December 25th. - This time we enjoy lunch together with our families. New Year’s Eve: - December 31st. - A family dinner to say goodbye to the year and welcome a New Year. At midnight we eat 12 grapes and wish each other a happy New Year.