News, December 2011

December holidays

Unlike most countries, Spain has not one, but two groups of holidays in Spain. Prior to the Christmas holidays, the 6th is the 'Day of the Constitution, remembering the signing of the current democratic constitution on 6th December, 1978. Then just two days later, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception. Although holidays falling at weekends do nt (necessarily) get a day en lieu, invariably, this pair of dates gives rise to a long weekend, known in Spain as a Puente, or bridge - or even, as in the case of 2011, a 'viaduct'. Some 70% of the population, according to an employers' federation survey would be happy to move holidays to Mondays or Fridays, so as not to completely wreck a working week on the one hand or a potential get-away on the other.
The comes the Christmas and New Year holiday. Nochebuena is the big meal, on the evening of the 24th. But presents have traditionally not been delivered the following morning by Santa, nor even on New Year's Day (as in France), but the children have had to wait until the very last day of their school holidays, the day of the kings, or Reyes, which is naturally much more Biblical idea than in most 'protestant' lands! Meanwhile, the Catholic calendar has come a bit unstuck, with the death of the 'Holy Innocents' being celebrated with April Fools style pranks on 28th December. Pro-Life groups take advantage of this day for more solemn remembrance.