This summer will bring extra joy to workers in three Spanish autonomous communities, who will enjoy a weekday holiday as the summer season begins.
This is the 24th of June, St. John’s Day, a festivity that, despite its religious name, has a pagan origin linked to the summer solstice. As with many other occasions such as Christmas, the Church adopted this ancient rite to incorporate it into its calendar of celebrations.
The communities that have designated this date as a regional holiday are Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Galicia, as stated in the official resolution from the General Directorate of Labour published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
In each of these regions, the most traditional element is the bonfires held on the night of the 23rd of June in squares, streets, and beaches, known as Nit de Sant Joan or Noite de San Xoán. The purifying fire is a common symbol that recalls the pagan nature of the celebration.
Bridge Only for the Privileged
This year, St. John falls on a Wednesday, meaning that to create a bridge holiday, one would need to take two additional days off, either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday. The reward for those who can manage this is enticing: five days of festivities to enjoy the first touches of summer.
The municipalities that will enjoy the St. John holiday / EFE
A Holiday for One in Three Spaniards
Catalonia (8.2 million inhabitants), the Valencian Community (5.5 million), and Galicia (2.7 million) are among the most populous autonomous regions in Spain, alongside Andalusia and Madrid. Together, these three regions total 16 million inhabitants, meaning that one in three Spaniards will have a holiday on the 24th of June.
Furthermore, many cities in the rest of Spain have designated this date as a local holiday. Among these are the following provincial capitals:
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which commemorates its foundation.
- Albacete.
- Almería.
- Badajoz.
- León.
- Soria.
Other cities like Ciutadella (Menorca), which celebrates the popular Sant Joan festivities featuring horses, also observe this holiday.
The 24th of June is also observed as a holiday in numerous municipalities in Tenerife, where St. John the Baptist is the patron saint:
14 Holidays Each Year
The work calendar for all Spanish municipalities consists of 14 public holidays, comprising 8 national holidays, 4 regional holidays, and 2 local holidays.
