Spain

The dates of holidays are important because businesses and sights may be closed. But holidays also offer the best opportunities to view and enjoy the local color.

All offices are closed on national holidays. When occurring near a weekend, the holiday becomes a four-day weekend.

This year:

1 January: Ano Nuevo (New Year).
6 January: Epifania del Senior (Epiphany).
19 March: San Jose (St. Joseph's Day).
1 April: Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday).
2 April: Viernes Santo (Good Friday).
4 April: Dia de Pascua (Easter Sunday).
1 May: Fiesta del Trabajo (Labor Day).
15 August: Asuncion de la Virgen (Assumption Day).
12 October: Dia de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Day).
1 November: Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day).
6 December: Constitucion Espanola (Constitution Day).
8 December: Inmaculada Concepcion (Immaculate Conception).
25 December: Natividad del Senior (Christmas).

Various regions and towns celebrate their own festivals at appointed times during the year. Check with us for exact dates.

In true Spanish style, cultural events are almost inevitably celebrated with a wild party and a holiday. Among the festivals to look out for are La Tamborrada in San Sebastion in February, when the whole town dresses up and goes berserk. Carnival takes place throughout the country in late February; the wildest is said to be in Sitges. In March, Valencia has a week long party known as Las Fallas, which is marked by all-night dancing, drinking, first-class fireworks and colorful processions? Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the week leading up to Easter Sunday with parades of holy images through the streets; Sevilla is the place to be if you can get accommodation. In late April the Feria de Abril in Sevilla is a weeklong party counterbalancing the religious fervor of Semana Santa.

Since 1944, each year on the last Wednesday of August in the little town of Buñol between 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 pm, in eastern Spain, La Tomatina, in which the surplus from its tomato harvest is splashed around in a riot of friendliest fashion. The Running of the Bulls (Sanfermines) in Pamplona in July is Spain's most famous festival. Along the north coast, staggered through the first half of August, are Semana Grande, another week of heavy drinking and hangovers.

What ever your choice, contact About Family Travel and let us design your vacation with your personal needs in mind.