Spanish public holidays
January 1 – Año Nuevo (New Year)
After the official Fiesta de Fin de Año in the Plaza de España (which traditionally starts in Conil at 00:30 directly after the chimes), the town takes a complete breather on New Year’s Day: the town hall even keeps the popular nativity scene museum in the Torre de Guzmán closed, and many stores remain closed. Nevertheless, families flock to Los Bateles beach from late morning for a first walk or the unofficial “primer baño del año” for the hardy, before recovering from New Year’s Eve with an aperitivo in the open chiringuitos.
6 January – Día de Reyes (Three Kings’ Day)
The real magic begins the evening before: on 5 January, the Gran Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos, with its colorfully illuminated floats and tons of sweets, rolls from Pocito Blanco through the historic center to the church of Santa Catalina from 6:30 pm. On the morning of January 6, the children find their presents under the tree and almost every family has breakfast with the obligatory Roscón de Reyes – a yeast wreath topped with candied fruit in which a figurine and a bean are hidden: Whoever catches the figurine is crowned “king” of the day, whoever finds the bean pays for next year’s cake.
February 28- Día de Andalucía (Autonomy Day)
In the morning, the town hall raises the green and white flag, schools sing the Andalusian anthem and hand out the classic “pan con aceite”. Many conileños use the day off for their first beach visit of the year.
Good Friday (Viernes Santo) – moving: Friday before Easter Sunday
At 8 pm, the “Santo Entierro” with the Virgen de la Soledad leaves the church of Santa Catalina in silence. Accompanied by chapel music, the procession moves along Calle Cádiz and the whitewashed streets of the old town – a highlight of Conil’s Semana Santa.
May 1 – Día del Trabajo (Labor Day)
Trade unions and neighborhood associations hold a short rally in the Plaza de España; afterwards, many families start a long “puente” weekend at the beach or chiringuito.
16 July – Local holiday in Conil – Virgen del Carmen (patron saint of fishermen): Beautiful procession on the water.
August 15 – Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
This midsummer holiday falls in the middle of the tourist season. In the evening, the parish church hosts a festive mass; in special years (such as 2013), there was even a “procesión magna” with several images of the Virgin Mary. Afterwards, concerts on the Paseo Atlántico create a vacation atmosphere late into the night.
September 8 – Día de la Patrona (Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes)
Highest local holiday: the Feria de las Virtudes takes place in the festival square days before. On 8 September itself, the patron saint is carried in a solemn procession from Santa Catalina through the historic center; casetas, horse shows and fireworks round off the night.
October 12 – Fiesta Nacional / Día de la Hispanidad
While Madrid shows the military parade live stream, Conil holds a short flag ceremony; many use the often extended weekend for their last beach vacation, and a mass is said in Santa Catalina in honour of the Virgen del Pilar.
November 1 – Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day)
Families decorate the graves in the San Pedro cemetery with chrysanthemums; bakeries sell “huesos de santo” and “buñuelos”. The afternoon ends traditionally with a chestnut barbecue in the alleyways around the Torre de Guzmán.
December 8 – Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception)
The day begins with a rosary at sunrise, followed by a festive mass; in the evening, the first Christmas lights are switched on in Calle Rosa de los Vientos. Many stores offer “puente” discounts for early gift shopping.
These holidays apply throughout Spain. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a day off work.
- 1 January – New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)
- 6 January – Epiphany (Día de Reyes)
- 19 March – St Joseph’s Day, also Father’s Day (Día de San José)
- 1 April – Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo)
- 2 April – Good Friday (Viernes Santo)
- 5 April – Easter Monday (only in Catalonia, Navarre, the Basque Country and Valencia)
- 1 May – Labour Day (Día del Trabajo)
- >25 July – St James the Greater, patron saint of Spain (Día del Apóstol Santiago) < 0 > not a public holiday
- August 15 – Assumption of Mary (Asunción de la Virgen)
- 12 October – Spanish National Day (Día de la Hispanidad)
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day (Día de Todos los Santos)
- 6 December – Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución)
- 8 December – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción)
- 25 December – Christmas (Navidad)
Feiertage in Andalusien
There are also numerous other holidays, but these only apply to a specific city or province. It would be almost impossible to list them all here. Here are the most important holidays in the major cities of Andalusia.
January 2 – Granada (Day of the Conquest)
On this day, Granada commemorates the surrender of the Nasrids to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. Highlights include the ceremonial raising of the historic Castilian banner at the Capilla Real and a procession from the town hall to the cathedral – accompanied by supporters celebrating the victory and groups of critics calling for dialogue and coexistence.
23 April – Seville (local holiday for the Feria de Abril)
Around this day (the date varies depending on the feria calendar), the city takes a day off on Wednesday so that all Sevillanos can enjoy the “Alumbrao” and the famous “Noche del Pescaíto” of the Feria de Abril. Carousels, horse parades and flamenco casetas characterise a whole week of cheerful folk festival culture.
May 30 – Seville (San Fernando)
The city honours its conqueror and patron saint, King Ferdinand III “el Santo”. His intact body is displayed in the Capilla Real in the morning, followed by military formations and city councillors marching through the old town before the faithful attend a solemn mass.
June 9 – Jaén (Virgin of the Chapel)
For a week, the “feria chica” fills the streets of the San Ildefonso district with concerts, temporary taverns and the offering of flowers to the city’s patron saint. It commemorates the tradition that Mary appeared on the city walls in 1430 and protected Jaén from besiegers.
August 3 – Huelva (Fiestas Colombinas)
The Colombinas celebrate Columbus’ departure on 3 August 1492. Unlike many Andalusian festivals, this is not a religious event, but a historical feria with concerts, fireworks over the Río Odiel and maritime shows in the harbour area.
August 19 – Málaga (Toma de Málaga)
On the anniversary of the capture of Málaga by the Catholic Monarchs in 1487, a cannon shot signals the start of the Feria de Málaga. The city centre becomes an open-air bodega, while the Real on the outskirts attracts visitors with fairground rides, flamenco and horse shows.
August 25 – Almería (Virgen del Mar)
The patron saint of the port city is the focus of a nine-day feria. On the feast day itself, sailors carry her image through the old town; a sea of white and blue flowers decorates the procession route to the cathedral.
September 8 – Málaga (Virgin of Victory)
Patron saint of the city since 1487, the Virgen de la Victoria leaves her basilica on this day. After a mass in the cathedral, thousands of people in traditional costumes flock through the old town streets behind the richly decorated litter.
8 September – Córdoba (Virgin of Fuensanta)
The Velá de la Fuensanta transforms the riverbank into a fairground with boat christenings, neighbourhood concerts and fireworks. Many Cordobeses also make a pilgrimage to the chapel of the same name to draw water from the holy spring.
September 8 – Huelva (Virgin of La Cinta)
The Virgen Chiquita returns to the sanctuary on Conquero Hill in a night-time procession. Beforehand, bands, gigantes y cabezudos figures and countless devotees fill the historic city centre.
7 October – Cádiz (Virgin of the Rosary)
For a whole week, citizens dressed in traditional costume bring floral offerings. On the day of the festival, the patron saint is carried through the white and yellow decorated Baroque streets accompanied by sailors and a gun salute battery at the harbour, while the crowd recites the rosary aloud.
18 October – Jaén (San Lucas)
The oldest autumn fair in Andalusia – and the last on the Spanish bullfighting calendar – offers eleven days of festivities, livestock markets and modern shows. In the evenings, a drone or fireworks finale sparkles above the new “La Vestida” exhibition grounds.
October 24 – Córdoba (San Rafael)
In gratitude for protection from medieval plague epidemics, the Cordobeses honour their archangel with a “Perol” picnic in the hills of the Sierra. Beforehand, festive masses fill the Church of the Juramento, where, according to legend, the archangel appeared.
26 December – Almería (Saint Stephen’s Day / Flag Day)
Almería commemorates the peaceful handover to the Catholic Monarchs in 1489 with a ceremonial presentation of the city banner at the town hall. Bands accompany the “Pendón” to the cathedral before the locals bring the Christmas celebrations to a close.