Now that you're in Spain, it might be useful to know when a public holiday falls. Spain has more public holidays than the Netherlands, and local shops and supermarkets are often closed on these days. Official holidays are determined by the government, autonomous regions, and city councils.

Holidays in Spain

Especially in Spain, the Spanish celebrate many festivals and events. All of them are definitely worth experiencing if you're staying on the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol.

January

January 1 – New Year's Day
January 6 - Epiphany

March

March 19 - San Jose

April

April 3 – Good Friday
April 5 – Easter

May

May 1 – Labor Day

June

June 24 - San Juan

August

August 15 – Assumption of Mary

October

September 9 - Valencia Day

October 12 – Día de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day)

December

December 6 – Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day)
December 8 – Immaculate Conception of Mary
December 25 – Christmas

Famous Holidays and Events

• Epiphany: This is the festival of the "regalos," the presents! This is the children's festival par excellence. Because here, this is the "Sinterklaas" festival. Remember, Sinterklaas doesn't exist in Spain and is therefore not celebrated. The Three Kings, "Los Reyes Magos," as they are called in Spain, are the mysterious men from the Far East (as children are told) who appear throughout the country on January 6th in parades that reach even the smallest towns. In many cities, they arrive by boat, accompanied by a host of "helpers" and dancers. The brightly dressed men are driven around the city on floats, handing out thousands of kilos of candy. In Alcoy, the "helpers" even climb ladders up the facades to deliver presents. At home, the children also receive the "requested" toys from the good men!
• Carnival celebrations: Always exuberant parades in a typical Brazilian samba atmosphere. Clubs, sewing workshops, singing and dancing groups, and orchestras spend months working on the costumes and acts. Girls and women spend months training to ensure they can wear the towering, wide, and heavy costumes with feathers. And all this… for hours, always smiling! It's a matter of glamour and extravagance. Of course, current themes are also addressed with the necessary humor and creativity. Celebrated in all cities and large towns. Well-known parades include Pego in the north of the Costa Blanca (near Denia) and Aguilas in the south of the province of Murcia. But the parades in Torrevieja, Benidorm, Murcia, and Cartagena are also well worth seeing. In Cartagena, the city is decorated with colors, music, and lights during this week-long festival. There are several competitions for the most original costume. This party is highly recommended for anyone who loves Carnival.
• Semana Santa: Impressive, subdued processions during Holy Week (the week before Easter) depicting the suffering and resurrection of Christ. Easter is the most celebrated religious holiday, and tradition has left an indelible mark on it. The "pasos" (sculptures) carried during the processions are enormous and heavy. Some weigh 1,500 kg, while others weigh 6,000 kg. These pasos are therefore carried by several people in a special rhythm. It is even a family honor to be allowed to participate in Semana Santa as a "nazareño" (those who carry the pasos). Many penitents in robes with pointed hoods over their heads also participate. For most Spaniards, it is the highlight of the year! During Semana Santa, there are processions every day, but the most impressive are those on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. For Spaniards, it is something very special. Every Spaniard normally returns to their hometown or town. You'll find extensive information about this in my "Getting to Know Spain... Taste Spain" folder. Torrevieja boasts beautiful processions, but Orihuela City and Murcia also have processions of national cultural significance. The Elche Palm Procession (the Sunday before Easter) is also internationally significant. Keep in mind that thousands of people come to see it. Chairs are available for rent along the entire procession.
• Ferias: Fairs featuring traditional Sevillian costumes. The women wear beautiful flamenco dresses, and the men wear elegant "trajes" (tight trousers and vests). It's also a true food festival, and there are many horse shows featuring dressage.
• Moors and Christians: This commemorates the expulsion of the Moors by Christians in the 15th and 16th centuries. King Boabdil was the last Moorish king to be expelled from Granada. The Christians, under the influence of the Kings of Catalonia (Fernando of Aragon and Isabel of Castile), were supported in their struggle. The date of the festivities depends on the feast day of the city's patron saint (so it can be either spring or summer). There are beautiful parades with exquisite traditional costumes. In the afternoon, there's the "mascletta"—deafening fireworks. There are battles between the two clans, and of course, the grand finale is the impressive parades in which both Christians and Moors triumphantly enter the city. Sometimes, very often, this is followed by the storming of the "castillo" (castle). In some cities, attacks come from the sea! These festivities are a must-see. So keep an eye on the events calendar. Very important parades take place in Alcoy, Rojales, Callosa de Segura, Guardamar, Orihuela, Crevillente.
• Romerias: Pilgrimages featuring Andalusian customs and traditional costumes. The Virgin Mary is taken from the church on Saturday after Mass, and people parade in decorated carts and wagons to a secluded location (forest, beach, park). There, they camp for two days, pray, and, above all, celebrate. On Sunday, there is High Mass with beautiful music and singing. In the evening, the Virgin Mary is returned to the main church.
• Feria de Septiembre: This 16-day festival is actually a mix of several celebrations. The International Festival of Folklore is held during this period, along with the regional gastronomy and wine festivals. This festival also features fireworks displays, parades, theatrical performances, music, a large fair, and lively street entertainment.
• Carthagineses y Romanos: During this 10-day festival, Cartagena is renamed Carthage, as the city was called in 223 BC. The festival begins with the Roman landing in the harbor. Later, the conflict between the two sides is addressed, which would culminate in the Second Punic War. There are performances of gladiators, a Roman circus with wild animals, and a re-enactment of the great battle for the city center. It's like traveling back in time 2,200 years. A very impressive replica of what the city of Cartagena experienced under Roman rule. The festival concludes with a parade of all participating Romans and Cartagenaeans, after which it concludes with a spectacular party and a huge fireworks display.
• Easter: Easter is celebrated in every part of Spain, but Murcia is one of cultural significance. The festivities begin on Palm Sunday and end on Easter Sunday with a lavish celebration. Each day represents a different procession (solemn religious procession). In this procession, worshippers in colorful robes walk in endless processions with "pasos" (wooden statues of saints), enormous fog horns, crucifixes, and groups of drummers. Candy is sold in the streets throughout the region, but this contradicts the true purpose of the holiday; the candy should be given away, not sold. For many Spaniards, Semana Santa is the highlight of the year, and therefore definitely worth a visit for tourists.
• Easter and Sea Week: During the "Orchard and Sea Week," the history of the village of Los Alcazares is celebrated. Every day, there are parades and fireworks displays throughout the village. During this week, Los Alcazares Park is transformed into a street lined with local restaurants. Anyone dining at these restaurants will be pleasantly surprised by the bill; everything is offered at cost price. A delicious variety of local specialties awaits.
• Fiestas Patronales: These are the local annual village fairs with a wide range of events and beautiful parades (in almost every town and village). Sometimes they last as long as two weeks. On the final day, the whole family gathers at the large tent in the village square. Some bring all sorts of tapas, others hams, wine, and drinks, others bring sweets, and everyone celebrates together. A "paella gigante" is also always prepared. As the name suggests: a gigantic paella for the entire population and... its visitors. So...just join in and blend in! We bet you'll make friends!
• Belenes: From the beginning of December, many villages and towns create a Christmas atmosphere by setting up "belenes." It's a traditional part of Christmas in Spain. The "belenistas" are the artisans who specialize in crafting Christmas figurines and nativity scenes. These beautiful miniature figurines and scenes depict the entire biblical story. "Belén" is named after the Spanish name for Bethlehem.
• Medieval Markets: Cheerful markets with craft stalls (sometimes 200 to 300 stalls!) in a medieval and Arabic atmosphere, featuring performances by theater groups and other shows such as jugglers, troubadours, magicians, musical groups with medieval instruments, magicians, storytellers, stilt walkers, bird shows, knightly games, and more. All sorts of handmade items are for sale, including blacksmithing, wood carving, glasswork, jewelry, soaps and perfumes, all kinds of spices, and numerous gastronomic offerings. You can find truly beautiful things there. They are usually held in the winter months.