Constitution Day in Spain

Constitución Española - Public Domain

Constitution Day, which is commemorated every 6th of December in Spain, marks the anniversary of a referendum held in Spain on the 6th December, 1978. In this referendum, a new constitution was approved, after 40 years of dictatorship. This was an important step in Spain's transition to becoming the constitutional monarchy and democracy it is today.









Public Holiday

Constitution Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. As the 8th of December is another public holiday, both workers and students often enjoy a long weekend off work and school.

Private life

• At schools children and young people have extra lessons on the history, politics and constitution of Spain. In fact, every year, a selection of high school students are invited to read the Constitution in the Lower House of the parliamentary buildings in Madrid a few days before December 6. 
• The parliamentary buildings, both the Congress and the Senate, are open to the general public during the previous week. 
• On the 6th of December, a cocktail party presided over by the monarch is held in the parliamentary buildings. 
• Anyway, Constitution Day is a quiet day off work for most people, as they usually spend time at home relaxing with family members or close friends. Some people even spend this long weekend travelling or doing some shopping for Christmas.

Public life

• Constitution Day is a national public holiday. Public life is generally very quiet and most businesses and other organizations are closed. 
• If the 6th of December falls on a Sunday, regional or local authorities can move the public holiday to a different date. If December 6 falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many businesses and organizations are also closed on Monday, December 5, or Friday, December 7.

Congress - by Epaminondas Pantulas - CC BY 2.0    

Some history

• Dictator Francisco Franco was head of state in Spain from April 1, 1939, until the 20th November, 1975.
• King Juan Carlos I was crowned on the 22nd November 1975 but the country needed a new constitution and political system. 
• General elections were held on the 15th of June 1977 and the newly formed parliament started drew up a new constitution.  
• The Spanish Constitution of 1978 was approved by 91,8% of the voters  in a referendum on the 6th of December 1978.
• Now, the date has become a national holiday and the Spanish people conmemorate the approval of this constitution every year.

Sources

• https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/spain/constitution-day
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Spain