Don’t Get Caught Out By The August Bank Holiday

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On Friday, August 15, Spain will observe a nationalist vacation celebrating nan Assumption of nan Virgin Mary, a important Catholic feast day. 

Falling connected a Friday this year, nan slope vacation will create a agelong weekend, offering a invited agelong break for those not moving weekends, often referred to arsenic nan “puente de agosto” (August Bridge). This agelong play show will nary uncertainty origin intensified postulation connected Thursday and Sunday arsenic hundreds of thousands return advantage and return to nan roads.

The festivity, much astir spending clip astatine nan formation these days than successful Catholic tradition, commemorates nan belief that nan Virgin Mary ascended assemblage and psyche into heaven, a dogma officially proclaimed by Pope Pius XII successful 1950.

As a non-transferable nationalist vacation that cannot beryllium moved by section authorities, nan Assumption is observed crossed each Spanish autonomous communities. However, successful immoderate towns, it whitethorn coincide pinch local holidays. Notably, residents of La Nucía successful Alicante will bask an extended four-day weekend, arsenic their section vacation connected August 18 falls connected a Monday.

August slope vacation – What’s open? What’s closed?

Public offices will beryllium closed, specified arsenic councils and wellness centres, arsenic will beryllium banks and galore section shops. Most supermarkets and shopping centres connected nan seashore will proceed to return advantage of nan masses of visitors and support their regular hours, pinch exception, of course, of Mercadona, who typically instrumentality to nationalist slope vacation calendars. Nonetheless, nan Valencian-based supermarket concatenation is showing signs of modernisation. In galore coastal locations, they will beryllium opening successful nan greeting until 3pm, while inland, astir supermarkets, including Mercadona, will beryllium watching a time of remainder for their employees.

Some towns will beryllium celebrating nan Catholic feast time successful a large style, pinch thoroughfare processions, and celebrated religion masses.

Looking ahead, Spain will observe 4 much national holidays successful 2025: nan National Day of Spain connected October 12 (observed connected October 13, a Monday for nan workers), All Saints’ Day connected November 1 (a Saturday), Constitution Day connected December 6 (a Saturday), and Christmas connected December 25 (a Wednesday). Those who activity weekends whitethorn peculiarly use from nan Saturday holidays.

The Assumption of nan Virgin Mary remains a overmuch loved tradition, mixing belief value pinch nan joyousness of a mid-summer break crossed Spain. Most, however, won’t fuss pinch church, and conscionable caput down to nan beach, to beryllium honest.

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