Spanish National and Benalmadena Local Holidays
Check the dates before you travel
The Spanish
are fortunate to enjoy many more Bank Holidays than we do in the UK and
unlike the UK, not only do banks, schools and offices close but so do
nearly all other retail outlets. The same can be said for Sundays in
Benalmadena where, except in the summer season, all shops tend to close
with the exception of bread shops and some small corner grocery shops.
Below is a list of bank holidays celebrated in Spain together with local
holidays in Benalmadena:-
| Date |
Name |
National/Regional/Local
|
|
1st January |
New Years Day |
National |
|
6th January |
Ephiphany or Spanish Xmas Day |
National |
|
28th February |
Andalucia Day |
National |
|
March/April (1) |
Maundy Thursday (Optional) |
National – optional |
|
March/April (1) |
Good Friday |
National |
|
March/April (1) |
Easter Sunday |
National |
|
1st May |
Labour day |
National |
|
24th June(2) |
San Juan |
Local |
|
15th August |
Assumption Day |
National |
|
12th October |
Hispanic day |
National |
|
1st November |
All Saints Day |
National |
|
6th December |
Constitution Day |
National |
|
8th December |
Feast of Immaculate Conception |
National |
|
25th December |
Christmas Day |
National |
(1) The Easter holidays are not on a set date
(2) The Fiesta de San Juan is a local holiday. Banks are open reduced hours for the week of the Fiesta and post their opening times at each bank.
The Spanish are renowned for taking their “haciendo puente”, or taking a bridge. This happens when a bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday so they take the preceding Monday or following Friday to make a long weekend holiday. You can imagine that during the first week in December it’s quite a lean time at the shops. Schools also follow the example and will often be closed on bridge days.
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|
