Día de la Constitución Española in Spain

A date set in law

A 1983 royal decree established 6 December each year as Constitution Day. It directs state institutions at national and territorial level to mark the occasion with public acts, with the form of those events set by each institution’s governing body.[1]

The day is also a national paid, non-recoverable labour holiday under the published labour-holiday rules. In general, workers receive the holiday without having to make up the time. The law allows for work on a holiday in exceptional circumstances, with additional pay or compensatory rest.[3]

The rule for a Sunday is relevant to planning: the labour rest day is generally transferred to the following Monday. Autonomous communities may instead replace that Monday rest with another traditional regional holiday. So the observed day can depend on the regional calendar.[3][4]

The referendum and its meaning

The Constitution followed a transition to a new democratic system. After elections in 1977, the newly formed Congress and Senate worked on the text. Voters ratified it in a referendum held on 6 December 1978.[2]

The Congress’s historical account describes the Constitution as establishing popular sovereignty and a social and democratic state governed by law. It also set out a parliamentary monarchy and a parliament made up of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. Constitution Day recalls this foundation of Spain’s present political system.[2]

Official commemorations and public events

The 1983 decree calls for public commemorative acts by state institutions and provides for the armed forces and schools to mark the day. The decree leaves the form of institutional events to the relevant authorities.[1]

The Congress of Deputies has held public open days around Constitution Day. The Congress says these visits have taken place since 1997 as part of the December commemorations, giving visitors access to parliamentary spaces including the chamber. Dates and arrangements vary, so visitors should check the Congress’s current information before making plans.[5]

A 1985 education ministry order called for special school activities to mark the anniversary and promote knowledge of the Constitution and democratic values. It said that if 6 December fell on a non-school day, schools should hold the observance on the preceding school day. This describes the order’s provision; school calendars and arrangements may vary.[6]

What to expect as a visitor

Because 6 December is a statutory labour holiday, many workers have the day off, but the holiday rules alone do not establish opening hours for every office, shop, attraction or transport service. Check the specific organization or operator before visiting or travelling. The rules also allow exceptional holiday work under specified compensation or rest arrangements.[3][4]

The date is fixed, but the weekday changes from year to year. When planning around the holiday, check the applicable regional calendar for any Monday rest day associated with a Sunday observance. This can matter when comparing the national date with local days off.[3][4]