Puerto Rico Constitution Day in Puerto Rico

A holiday rooted in Puerto Rico’s history

The date had meaning before it became Constitution Day. The 1952 law that named the holiday says Puerto Ricans associated July 25 with the start of political relations between the United States and Puerto Rico in 1898. The law presents the later constitutional achievement as the reason to commemorate the date.[1]

Puerto Rico’s official history describes the steps leading to the Constitution: voters approved the process of drafting one in a 1951 referendum, and the completed text was submitted to voters in March 1952. On July 25, Governor Luis Muñoz Marín presided over the ceremony proclaiming the Constitution in effect and the Commonwealth established.[2]

What the day commemorates

The Constitution set out a framework for Puerto Rico’s government. Its preamble describes the people organizing politically on a democratic basis and establishing a Commonwealth within their union with the United States.[2] The holiday therefore marks a constitutional and political milestone specific to Puerto Rico, alongside the date’s earlier historical association described in the holiday law.[1]

The ceremony in 1952 also included the first performance of the official arrangement of La Borinqueña, Puerto Rico’s anthem, according to the government’s account.[2]

Date and legal status

The holiday is designated by a Puerto Rico law approved in 1952, which declares July 25 of each year a legal holiday called Constitution Day.[1] A later law on transferring holiday dates also lists Constitution Day on July 25.[3]

That later law allows the governor, when needed to maintain continuous government operations, to issue an annual proclamation moving a listed holiday to the nearest Monday or Friday. Constitution Day’s regular date is July 25.[3]

Planning around the holiday

The day is a legal holiday. Residents and travellers should check directly with the office, business or service they plan to use for its holiday schedule.