Spanish Holidays

Event / Holiday	Where	When

New Year (Año Nuevo)	Every Spanish speaking country	January 1st
Celebration of the beginning of the year. Fireworks, etc.
Carnival (Carnival)	Most Spanish speaking countries	usually ends on the day before Ash Wednesday
A celebration before the fasting associated with Lent (Roman Catholic custom). Parades, costumes, dances, Carnival Queen elections, and fireworks.
Easter (Pascuas/Semana Santa)	Every Spanish speaking country, esp. Spain, Central America, and Peru	Sunday thru Saturday before the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21
Commemorates the week that Christ was crucified and resurrected.
Labor Day (Día del Trabajador)	Spain only, but other countries have Labor Day holidays also	May 1st
Day off from public work- similar to USA Labor day.
Festival- Bonfires of Saint John (Les Fogueres de Sant Joan)	Spain only	June 19th to 24th
Fireworks, parties, and big bonfires.
Assumption of Mary (Asunción)	Spain only	August 15th

Columbus Day (Fiesta Nacional de España)	Spain only	October 12th
Holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus and the nation of Spain. Has parades and other festivities.
All Saint's Day (Día de los Santos) / Halloween (Día de los Muertos)	Every Spanish speaking country (to varying degrees)	November 1st
Celebrates and honors the lives of the deceased and the continuation of life. Death is not the end, but the beginning of another phase of life.
Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución)	Spain only	December 6th
Day celebrating the Constitution of Spain.
Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción)	Spain only	December 8th
Feast celebrating the birth of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ.
Christmas (Navidad)	Every Spanish speaking country	December 25th
Celebrates the birth of Christ. Gifts exchanged, etc. just like in the USA.
The siesta	Every Spanish speaking country	mid-afternoon nap
Not as popular from modern changes, but still exists.