Hoping For A Big December Break In 2025? The Calendar Has Other Plans

As Christmas approaches successful Spain – nan lights, nan markets, nan acquainted scramble for gifts – there’s usually 1 past breather earlier everything speeds up: nan early December puente.

It’s nan mini region galore group trust connected to decorate nan house, sojourn family, aliases vanish location quiet for a mates of days.

But if you’ve already been eyeing nan almanac for 2025 hoping for a nice, agelong span break… you whitethorn request to set expectations.

The charismatic holiday calendar published successful nan BOE has now confirmed really nan dates autumn adjacent year, and unfortunately, nan measurement nan days statement up intends nan break will beryllium shorter than usual.

So, erstwhile precisely is nan December break successful 2025?

This mini-holiday happens each twelvemonth betwixt 2 nationalist holidays:

• December 6 – Constitution Day
• December 8 – Feast of nan Immaculate Conception

However, successful 2025, December 6 falls connected a Saturday. For galore workers, Saturday is already a time disconnected – truthful that 1 is efficaciously mislaid arsenic a ‘bonus’ free day.

The 8th of December, though, lands connected a Monday, and that 1 is simply a due nationalist vacation for everyone.

So alternatively of nan accustomed four-day puente that galore dream about, adjacent year’s break will look for illustration this:

• Saturday December 6 (holiday)
• Sunday  December 7
• Monday December 8 (holiday)

A three-day play – nice, but not nan full-blown flight immoderate were hoping to plan.

Still, nan upside is important: some days are nationalist holidays that cannot beryllium removed, changed aliases swapped, meaning nan agelong play is guaranteed successful each region of Spain, nary matter wherever you live.

Why can’t Spain conscionable “move” 1 of nan days to make a longer puente?

This is nan portion that often surprises expats.

Spain’s vacation strategy is tightly regulated. Every region gets 14 charismatic holidays per year, divided for illustration this:

• 8 nationalist holidays (fixed by nan Spanish Government)
• 4 location holidays (each Autonomous Community chooses)
• 2 section holidays (each municipality chooses)

Because of this system, regions can’t conscionable adhd a free time to create a longer puente – they would person to springiness up 1 of their ain location holidays to do so. And astir regions don’t want to sacrifice cardinal section celebrations to create an other time disconnected successful December.

Plus, Constitution Day connected December 6 is simply a fixed nationalist holiday. It’s written into rule that it cannot beryllium moved to a weekday.

So yes – nan dates are efficaciously locked successful place.

What do group usually do pinch this December break?

Even pinch only 3 days, nan puente de diciembre remains 1 of Spain’s astir cherished pre-Christmas rituals. It’s nan infinitesimal when:

• Fairy lights commencement appearing connected balconies
• Christmas markets unfastened successful main squares
• Families get together to decorate nan tree
• People make their first “serious” gift-shopping trip
• And galore return a speedy play escape

Expats often usage nan break to:

• Travel earlier Christmas prices skyrocket
• Visit different Spanish metropolis (Málaga’s Christmas lights are ever popular)
• Get up of festive shopping
• Do thing astatine each – and bask 1 quiet play earlier December gets wild

Because moreover if it’s conscionable 3 days, successful Spain, a three-day play still counts arsenic a celebration.

The takeaway

No, December 2025 won’t bring nan long, dreamy four-day puente galore were softly hoping for.
But Saturday 6 to Monday 8 December 2025 still gives Spain – and its expat organization – a mini but invited region correct earlier nan festive play kicks into afloat speed.

And if there’s 1 point surviving successful Spain teaches you, it’s that moreover a short break tin consciousness for illustration a holiday… if you determine to dainty it for illustration one.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for much news from Spain