Día de la Constitución Española in the Canary Islands
Día de la Constitución Española is observed on 6 December, the anniversary of the Spanish people’s ratification of the Constitution by referendum. In the Canary Islands, it is included in the regional calendar of paid, non-recoverable public holidays, alongside the nationally observed day.[1][2]
The date and its meaning
The referendum on the Constitution was held on 6 December 1978. A 1983 royal decree established 6 December each year as Día de la Constitución and called for public commemorations by state institutions and commemorative activities in schools.[3][4]
For the Canary Islands, the Constitution’s relevance includes its recognition of regional autonomy and the particular circumstances of island territories. It provides for territorial organization through autonomous communities, recognizes their autonomy, and specifically refers to the circumstances of insularity.[4]
A public holiday across the islands
The Canary Islands Government sets the regional labor-holiday calendar within the framework of state labor law. Its published calendar includes 6 December as Día de la Constitución Española; the date applies across the islands, alongside separate island and municipal holidays.[2]
Spanish labor law classifies public holidays as paid and non-recoverable, with a maximum of fourteen a year, including two local holidays. It also provides for the transfer to the following Monday of the corresponding rest when a holiday coincides with a Sunday. The specific calendar is set through the applicable annual holiday arrangements.[1][2]
Commemorations and practical plans
The royal decree establishing the observance directs state institutions, including those at territorial level, to mark the day with public acts arranged by their governing bodies. It also provides for commemorative activities in schools, organized according to academic authorities’ instructions. These provisions set a framework for commemoration; they do not establish a single event schedule for every island or municipality.[3]
The holiday calendar does not by itself determine the opening hours of public administration workplaces. Shop opening is also not uniform: Canary Islands commercial rules provide for designated Sundays and holidays when shops may open, as well as exceptions for certain tourist zones. Check the relevant authority or business for its actual hours.[2][5]
Frequently asked questions
When is Día de la Constitución Española?
Is it a public holiday in the Canary Islands?
Are shops open?
Some shops may open on designated holidays, and certain tourist areas have exceptions to the general commercial-hours regime. Opening varies, so check the specific shop and location.[5]
Are public offices open?
The holiday listing alone does not determine how public administration workplaces operate. Check the relevant office’s published schedule before travelling.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Día de la Constitución Española in Canary Islands:
- Real Decreto Legislativo 2/2015, de 23 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley del Estatuto de los Trabajadores.- Boletín Oficial del Estado
- DECRETO 115/2026, de 29 de junio, por el que se determina el calendario de fiestas laborales de la Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias para el año 2027.- Boletín Oficial de Canarias
- Real Decreto 2964/1983, de 30 de noviembre, por el que se establece el «Día de la Constitución».- Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Constitución Española.- Boletín Oficial del Estado
- Horarios Comerciales- Gobierno de Canarias