Spanish National Fiestas
You can easily discover the vast and vibrant cultural heritage of the Costa Blanca through the many festivals they celebrate. Here are some useful dates for your diary to stay informed about the local fiestas that take place every year on the Costa Blanca…
1 JANUARY – New Years Day
6 JANUARY – Three Kings Day
19 MARCH – San Jose
1 MAY – Workers Day
24 JUNE – San Juan
15 AUGUST – Assumption Day
12 OCTOBER – National Day
1 NOVEMBER – All Saints Day
6 DECEMBER – Constitution Day
8 DECEMBER – Immaculate Conception Day
Hogueras de San Juan, one of the biggest events on the Costa Blanca, is where Alicante welcomes the summer by converting its streets into a colourful inferno. On the night of 24 June, Saint John’s Day, the streets of Alicante are filled with colour by the spectacular firework displays and the traditional burning of impressive handmade sculptures.
The celebration includes street parades, live drumming music, the traditional Offering of Flowers, and the mascletàs or firecracker displays, making Alicante a major international tourist attraction, with visitors attending from all over the world.
The National Day of Spain, traditionally and commonly referred to as the Día de la Hispanidad, commemorates the 12th October 1492. This was the day Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas, marking the beginning of sustained contact between Europe and the New World. This official public holiday is celebrated all across Spain with its highlight being the outstanding military parade in Madrid in the presence of the Royal Family, and an impressive fly-past from the aerobatic flight team of the Spanish Air Force, the Patrulla Águila.
Constitution day (Día de la Constitución) is celebrated every year in Spain on 6th December. It commemorates the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, which established Spain as a democratic constitutional monarchy after the Franco dictatorship. The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms and defines Spain’s political structure. As it is a national public holiday, schools, banks, and many businesses are closed. Official ceremonies and institutional events take place, and the Spanish Parliament often opens its doors to the public.