October 12 is a national holiday in Spain: everything you need to know about Spain Day

Businesses and schools are closed every Oct 12 in Spain to celebrate the public holiday

Next Wednesday October 12 is a national holiday in Spain, celebrated annually as ‘Día de la Hispanidad’, also known as the ‘Fiesta Nacional de España’ or Spain Day.

Traditionally, people have the day off work and sometimes even a day either side if it falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday to make a long ‘puente’ bank holiday weekend, which is unfortunately not the case this year.

Businesses, schools and post offices will be closed on Wednesday October 12 for the national public holiday, but there should still be plenty of restaurants and bars open.

The next bank holidays that mean a day off for the whole of Spain are on November 1 (All Saints’ Day), December 6 (The Day of the Constitution) and December 8 (The Feast of the Immaculate Conception).  

See also: Here are all the bank holiday days in Spain for 2023

Why is October 12 a public holiday in Spain?

The historical significance of the date October 12 is that it is the day in in 1492 that Christopher Columbus (known in Spain as Cristóbal Colón) – sailing under the patronage of Spain’s Catholic monarchs, the Reyes Católicos – made contact between Europe and America. Of course, at that time Columbus believed that he had reached the Indies, and didn’t know he was in America, but the day is still celebrated in Spain as an important event.

How do people in Spain celebrate their national holiday?

The Día de la Hispanidad event on October 12 is normally marked with a military parade along the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, which is attended by the King and important high-ranking Spanish officials, plus personalities from the economic, social, sporting, educational, cultural and media spheres.

Often the most popular part of the parade, which is televised live on Spanish TV, is when the military aircraft, including fighters, transport planes and helicopters, fly over the Madrid skies in formation.

Image: Archive