Spain (Basque Country) : complete schedule of public and bank holidays, closure of banks and stock exchanges, school vacations, trade fairs, cultural and sporting events, festivals, carnivals, election during the next 3 months
Summer holiday (beginning)
-
Friday June 24, 2022
School holidays :
St James the Apostol
-
Monday July 25, 2022
Catholic : One of three witnesses of the Transfiguration of Christ in Mt. Tabor, but also a witness to Jesus' agony.
Regional holiday
-
Sunday July 31, 2022
Catholic : St Ignatius Loyala - Founder of the society of Jesus. Patron saint of retreats and retreatants Bilbao and San Sebastián only
Regional holiday
-
Friday August 5, 2022
Secular holiday : Virgin Blanca in Vitoria only
Assumption
-
Monday August 15, 2022
Catholic :
Elcano Day
-
Tuesday September 6, 2022
Secular holiday : Juan Sebastián Elcano (sometimes misspelled del Cano; 1486/1487 4 August 1526) was a Basque explorer who completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth. After Ferdinand Magellan's death in the Philippines, Elcano took command of the carrack Victoria from the Moluccas to Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain.
Even though Magellan did not survive the trip, he has received more recognition for the expedition than has Elcano, for three reasons. First, Magellan was the one who started the voyage; second, Portugal wanted to recognize a Portuguese explorer; and third, Spain wanted to avoid encouraging Basque nationalism [Wikipedia]
Summer holiday (end)
-
Wednesday September 7, 2022
School holidays :
San Sebastian Film Festival
-
Friday September 16, 2022
Culture : Lasts 10 days
www.sansebastianfestival.com in San Sebastian 2022 season confirmed
Virgin of the Pillar
-
Wednesday October 12, 2022
Secular holiday :
All Saints - (beginning)
-
Friday October 28, 2022
School holidays :
All Saints' Day
-
Tuesday November 1, 2022
Catholic : The day now honors all saints of the church, even those not known by name. The first All Saints' Day occurred on May 13, 609 (C.E.) when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon as a gift from the Emperor Phocas. Boniface dedicated it as the Church of Santa Maria Rotonda in honor of the Blessed Virgin and all martyrs. During Pope Gregory III's reign (731-741), the festival was expanded to include all saints and a chapel in St. Peter's church was dedicated accordingly. Pope Gregory IV officially designated the day in 837. (World Book Encyclopedia)
All Saints - (end)
-
Wednesday November 2, 2022
School holidays :
Festival Internacional de Cine Documental y Cortometraje de Bilbao
-
Friday November 11, 2022
Culture : Http://zinebi.eus/web/ 2022 edition confirmed
San Sebastian Marathon
-
Sunday November 27, 2022
Sports events : Https://www.zurichmaratondonostia.com 2022 edition confirmed
Constitution Day
-
Tuesday December 6, 2022
Secular holiday : Commemorates the 1978 referendum when the Spanish people voted to approve the constitution.
Immaculate Conception
-
Thursday December 8, 2022
Catholic : Dogma that Mary was from the first moment of conception, totally free from the stain of original sin. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Christmas holiday (beginning)
-
Thursday December 22, 2022
School holidays :
Christmas Day
-
Sunday December 25, 2022
Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Years Day on Christmas Day.