(National) holidays

The first weeks of July are dedicated to the virgin “Virgo Virgin del Carmen”, the patron saint of sailors. This is one of the most important events of the region and is celebrated with fireworks, events, processions in the sea and shows.

The Hogueras de San Juan is the Alicante city most important celebration, beginning on the 20th june and lasting until the 29th. It is a festival dedicated to the fire, including events such as the proclamation (the Pregón), the setting up of the bonfires (the Plantà), the procession of the effigies ( Cabalgata del Ninot), parades and processions in different neighbourhoods of the city and the main event on the 24th June, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, when large satirical statues made of cardboard and wood are set alight.

During previous holidays in Spain you have probably witnessed a Moros y Cristianos festive. A celebration in memory of a Christian victory over the Moors. Because from 711 to 1492 Spain has been a residential area of ​​Moors. At first almost all Spain falls under Moorish regime. But as the Moorish rule weakens and the Christian resistance grows stronger, the Moorish territory becomes smaller. Until in 1492 the last Moorish leaders retired from Granada and Spain is completely in the hands of Christians again. Moorish and Christian festivals are held at more than 200 locations in the regions of Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, Castilla la Mancha and Catalonia. Most parties take place in the provinces of Alicante (Valencian Community), Valencia, Granada (Andalusia) and Almería (Andalusia). And are mainly celebrated in small communities, where traditions often live even stronger than in large cities in Spain.






Aigües: celebrates this festival at the end of August and lasts for a whole week.

El Campello: celebrates these festivities in early October also last a whole week.

In all Moros y Cristianos parties the participants are divided into two groups: Christian and Moorish groups. Both groups conquer the day, which is celebrated in the Entrada Cristiana (= entry of the Christians) and the Entrada Mora (= entry of the Moors). The festival ends with the reconquest of the place by the Christians, where the castle of a place is finally occupied by the Christian groups. A reconquest that goes hand in hand with a big fight between the Christians and the Moors.  

The following 8 dates are public holidays in Spain:

  1. 01/01/2019 New Year/ Año Nuevo
  2. 19/04/2019 Good Friday/ Viernes Santo
  3. 01/05/2019 Labour Day / Día del Trabajador
  4. 24/06/2019 San Juan (comunidad Valenciana)
  5. 15/08/2019 Ascencion day/ Asunción de la Virgen
  6. 09/10/2019 Día de la Comunidad Valenciana (comunidad Valenciana)
  7. 12/10/2019  National festival of Spain /Día de Hispanidad
  8. 01/11/2019  All Saints Day/ Día de Todos lo Santos
  9. 06/12/2019 Day of the Spanich constitution/ Día de la Constitución
  10. 25/12/2019 Christmas/ Navidad