Spanish holidays
National and local Bank holidays in Spain
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
Born on the 1st of January:
1431 – Pope Alexander VI (d. 1503)
1895 – J. Edgar Hoover, American FBI director (d. 1972)
1972 – Lilian Thuram, French footballer
6 Jan* Epiphany.
In Spain, and some Latin American countries Epiphany day is called El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings), i.e., the day when a group of Kings or Magi, as related in the second chapter of the gospel of Matthew, arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. In Spanish tradition, on the day of January 6, three of the Kings: Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Children (and many adults) polish and leave their shoes ready for the Kings’ presents before they go to bed on the eve of January 6. Sweet wine, nibbles, fruit and milk are left for the Kings and their camels.
Born on the 5th of January:
1412 – Joan of Arc, Roman Catholic Saint and national heroine of France (legendary date) (d. 1431) Birthdate is up for debate, this is an educated guess, some scholars suggest that the actual birthdate is the 7th.
1955 – Rowan Atkinson, English comedian and actor (Black Adder, Mr Bean etc)
1960 – Nigella Lawson, English chef and writer
28 Feb Dia de Andalucia Local
Andalusia day is celebrated on February 28 and commemorating the year 1980, which gave full autonomy to the Andalusian community referendum.
In many towns and cities decorate the balconies, hanging the flag of bars, Andalusia and held contests of Andalusian courtyards, among other. In schools, although the week of 28 February is festive, known as Cultural week or white week, the previous week Friday often a holiday in the school and take breakfast Andalusian, and colorean concerning the symbols of Andalusia drawings, its history and their customs, represent costumbristas plays and sing the Anthem of Andalusia .
Born on the 28th of february:
1943 – Charles Bernstein, American composer
1979 – Michael Bisping, English mixed martial artist
19 Mar San Jose.
Saint Joseph (also known as Joseph of the House of David, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth, or Joseph the Worker) is known from the New Testament as the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus. Although according to Christian tradition he was not the biological father of Jesus, he acted as his foster-father and as head of the Holy Family. Joseph is venerated as a saint within the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican Churches.
Born on the 19th of march:
1434 – Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, Japanese shogun (d. 1443)
1849 – Alfred von Tirpitz, German World War I Admiral (d. 1930)
1955 – Bruce Willis, American actor
Maundy Thursday, Jueves Santo, (date differs from year to year see below), also known as Holy Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. The date is always between 19 March and 22 April inclusive. These dates in the Julian calendar, on which Eastern churches in general base their calculations of the date of Easter, correspond throughout the twenty-first century to 1 April and 5 May in the more commonly used Gregorian calendar.
Good Friday (date differs from year to year see below), also called Holy Friday, Black Friday, or Great Friday, is a holiday observed primarily by adherents to Christianity commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and often coincides with the Jewish observance of Passover.
Based on the scriptural details of the Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus, the Crucifixion of Jesus was most probably on a Friday. The estimated year of Good Friday is AD 33, by two different groups, and originally as AD 34 by Isaac Newton via the differences between the Biblical and Julian calendars and the crescent of the moon.
1 May Labour Day (Día internacional de los trabajadores or Primero de mayo).
is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. May Day commonly sees organized street demonstrations and street marches by millions of working people and their labour unions throughout most of the countries of the world.
Born on the 1st of May:
1857 – Theo Van Gogh, Dutch art dealer (d. 1891) and the younger brother of Vincent van Gogh.
1946 – John Woo, Hong Kong director.
1969 – Wes Anderson, American director and writer
11 June – local Marbella
Every year at the beginning of June, Marbella pays homage to its patron saint San Bernabe (Saint Bernard) with a weeklong fair. The Marbella féria includes all the traditional elements of an Andalusian fair: food, drink, dancing, entertainment and of course, the trademark “casetas” that are set up just for the fair.
The actual date of the Marbella fair is determined by San Bernabé Day, which is June 11th. This is always a local holiday and the fair takes place during the first or second week of June depending on where the 11th falls and how the Town Hall thinks it best fits with all the festivities. The 2009 Marbella Fair therefore, will centre on the second week of June running officially from June 8th to the 14th.
Born on the 11th of June:
1910 – Jacques-Yves Cousteau, French explorer and inventor (d. 1997)
1933 – Gene Wilder, American actor
1939 – Sir Jackie Stewart, Scottish race car driver, three-time F1 world champion and former F1 team principal
15 August Assumption day.
The Assumption is important to many Catholic and Orthodox Christians as the Virgin Mary’s heavenly birthday (the day that Mary was received into Heaven). Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen by them as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all enduring Christians that they too will be received into paradise. The Assumption of Mary is symbolised in the Fleur-de-lys Madonna.
The Feast of the Assumption on August 15th is a Public Holiday in many countries, including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Colombia, Cyprus, East Timor, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Greece, Republic of Guinea, Haiti, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Tahiti, Togo, and Vanuatu. It is also a holiday in some predominantly Catholic states of Germany, including Bavaria and Saarland. In Guatemala it is observed in Guatemala City and in the town of Santa Maria Nebaj, both of which claim her as their patron saint.
Born on the 15th of August:
1769 – Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France (d. 1821)
1950 – The Princess Anne, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom
1972 – Ben Affleck, American actor.
12 October National Day.
The National Holiday of Spain or Hispanic Day (Fiesta Nacional de España or Día de la Hispanidad, in Spanish; Festa Nacional d’Espanya or Dia de la Hispanitat, in Catalan/Valencian; Festa Nacional de España or Día da Hispanidade, in Galician; Espainiako Jai Nazionala or Hispanitate Eguna, in Basque) is the national day of Spain. It is held annually on October 12 and is a national holiday which commemorates the exact date of 1492 when Christopher Columbus first set a foot in America.
Born on the 12th of October:
1935 – Luciano Pavarotti, Italian tenor (d. 2007)
1 November All Saints’ Day.
All Saints’ Day (officially the Feast of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas), often shortened to All Saints, is a feast celebrated on November 1 in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.
In Portugal and Spain, ofrendas (offerings) are made on this day. In Spain, the play Don Juan Tenorio is traditionally performed. In Mexico, All Saints coincides with the celebration of “Día de los Inocentes” (Day of the Innocents), the first day of the Day of the Dead(Dia de los Muertos) celebration, honoring deceased children and infants.
Born on the 1 of november:
1958 – Charlie Kaufman, American screenwriter
1967 – Sophie B. Hawkins, American musician
1972 – Jenny McCarthy, American “Playmate of the Year” and TV actress
6 December Constitution Day.
Constitution Day is a holiday to honor the constitution of a country. Constitution Day is often celebrated on the anniversary of the signing, promulgation or adoption of the constitution, or in some cases, to commemorate the change to constitutional monarchy:
The Constitution of Spain is regarded as the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. It was enacted after a referendum on December 6, 1978.
The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the constitution of 1812. After the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, a general election in 1977 convened the Constituent Cortes (the Spanish Parliament, in its capacity as a constitutional assembly) for the purpose of drafting and approving the constitution.
A seven-member panel was selected among the elected members of the Cortes to work on a draft of the Constitution to be submitted to the body. These came to be known, as the media put it, as the padres de la Constitución or “fathers of the Constitution”. These seven people were chosen to represent the wide (and often, deeply divided) political spectrum within the Spanish Parliament, while the leading role was given to then ruling party and now defunct Unión de Centro Democrático.
Born on the 6th of december:
1898 – Gunnar Myrdal, Swedish economist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics (d. 1987)
1948 – Keke Rosberg, Finnish race car driver
1970 – Ulf Ekberg, Swedish musician (Ace of Base)
8 Dec Immaculate Conception – Día de la Constitución
The Immaculate Conception is, according to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain (“macula” in Latin) of original sin. Under this aspect Mary is sometimes called the Immaculata (the Immaculate One), particularly in artistic contexts. The dogma says that, from the first moment of her existence, she was preserved by God from the lack of sanctifying grace that afflicts mankind, and that she was instead filled with divine grace. It is further believed that she lived a life completely free from sin. Her immaculate conception in the womb of her mother, by sexual intercourse, should not be confused with the doctrine of the virginal conception of her son Jesus.
Born on the 8th of december
65 BC – Horace, Roman poet (d. 8 BC)
1966 – Sinéad O’Connor, Irish musician
1986 – Amir Khan, English boxer
25 Dec Christmas Day.
Christmas, also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini system of dating, is thought to have occurred between 7 and 2 BC. December 25 is not known to be Jesus’ actual date of birth, and the date may have been chosen to correspond with either a Roman festival or the winter solstice.
In Spain the evening of the 24th of december, Christmas Eve, called “Nochebuena”, just like in many parts of the world, is celebrated with two very important traditions, eating and going to Christmas mass. On the 25th the people of Spain spend time with their families. More food is consumed and in many spanish families children gets their gifts from Papa Noel. It is thou more common that the exchange of gifts occurs on the celebration of the three kings (Dia de Los Reyes) on January 6th.
Born on the 25th of December:
1642 – Sir Isaac Newton, English physicist and mathematician (d. 1727)
1899 – Humphrey Bogart, American actor (d. 1957)
1930 – Emmanuel Agassi, Iranian boxer and father of Andre Agassi
Sources:
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://www.escuelai.com/