Plurinational State Foundation Day in Bolivia

A holiday rooted in Bolivia’s constitutional change

The holiday was established by Supreme Decree No. 405 on January 20, 2010, which designated January 22 as the Foundation Day of the Plurinational State and a nationwide holiday suspending public and private activities.[1]

Its meaning is closely tied to Bolivia’s 2009 Constitution. The Constitution took effect on February 7, 2009, and defined Bolivia as a plurinational, intercultural state founded on political, economic, legal, cultural and linguistic pluralism. The annual commemoration recalls that constitutional change and the country’s shift from a republic to a plurinational state.[2]

How the date is observed

Official observances have included speeches by national leaders, participation by social and Indigenous organizations, and public gatherings in La Paz. Reports from different years describe different programmes, so these are examples of celebrations rather than a fixed annual schedule.[2][3]

An account of one ceremony described an ancestral rite and an offering to Pachamama, led by Indigenous spiritual leaders, or amautas, with prayers in Indigenous languages. That report documents one observance; it does not establish that every community or region follows the same custom.[3]

A report on a La Paz gathering described a march to Plaza Murillo and a popular celebration nearby, with food and other stalls along the route. Vendors were reported selling pesque de quinoa, mocochinchi, cinnamon ice cream and other foods. These are examples recorded at that event, not a nationwide holiday menu.[4]

Holiday status and practical planning

The national holiday rules list January 22 as the Day of the Creation of the Plurinational State and provide for suspension of public and private activities. Under the general transfer rule described by the Ministry of Labour, a holiday falling on Sunday moves to the following Monday, with specified exceptions for other holidays. The government may also announce a special date change, so check official notices for the year you plan to travel.[5][6]

Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go. Reported gatherings and processions in La Paz may affect movement near the event area when they take place.[4][5]