Assumption Day in Paraguay
On August 15, Paraguay marks the Foundation of Asunción as a national public holiday. The date also coincides with the Catholic feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, giving the day both civic and religious meaning.[1][3]
A fixed national holiday
Paraguay’s Law No. 7544 lists August 15 as the Day of the Foundation of Asunción. The law makes it a national holiday each year and says it is not among the holidays that may be moved to a Monday, so the date remains August 15.[1]
The law also permits the president to establish up to three additional national holidays by decree in a year. These additional holidays do not change August 15’s fixed date.[1]
Why August 15 matters in Paraguay
The date commemorates the founding of the fort Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Paraguay’s Secretariat of Culture records that Juan de Salazar y Espinosa founded it on August 15, 1537; the settlement became a city in 1541. The fort’s founding is remembered as the beginning of Asunción, Paraguay’s capital.[2]
The date also belongs to the Catholic calendar. The Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption on August 15, a feast centered on the belief that Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul. The city of Asunción’s official accounts describe the Virgin of the Assumption as its patron, linking the religious celebration with the capital’s anniversary.[3][4]
Religious and civic observances
Asunción’s municipal records show that past celebrations have included Mass, a procession honoring the Virgin, and musical gatherings near the Cathedral. One documented programme also included a procession by boat on Asunción Bay followed by a procession on foot to the Cathedral.[4]
Civic celebrations have also featured cultural performances and public events. Municipal programmes have documented concerts, dance, craft and food fairs, and activities in the historic center. Schedules and locations can vary, so visitors should check current local announcements before making plans.[4]
Work and practical plans
Under Paraguay’s Labour Code, statutory holidays are mandatory rest days. Work performed on a holiday is paid with a 100 percent supplement over the ordinary hourly wage for a working day. The law preserves the work of emergency medical staff and employees providing essential public services on holidays.[1][5]
Check directly with a business or transport operator if you need a particular service, especially when attending events in central Asunción.[4]
Frequently asked questions
When is Assumption Day in Paraguay?
It is observed on August 15 each year. The national holiday is fixed to that date and is not moved to a Monday under the holiday law.[1]
Is it a public holiday throughout Paraguay?
Yes. The law designates August 15 as a national holiday of Paraguay, commemorating the Foundation of Asunción.[1]
Do workers get the day off?
The Labour Code makes holidays established by law mandatory rest days. Employees who work on a holiday receive a 100 percent supplement over their ordinary hourly wage.[5]
What is open on the holiday?
Emergency medical care and essential public services continue. Shops and transport operators set their own hours, so check with them before you travel.[1]
What can visitors expect in Asunción?
Past municipal programmes have included religious processions and Mass, along with concerts, cultural events and fairs. The programme changes, so check current local announcements for confirmed events.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for Assumption in Paraguay:
- Ley Nº 7544/2025 / QUE DETERMINA LOS FERIADOS NACIONALES DE LA REPÚBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, SE ESTABLECEN LOS FERIADOS MÓVILES Y SE FACULTA AL PODER EJECUTIVO A INSTITUIR OTROS FERIADOS EN SITUACIONES ESPECIALES.- Biblioteca y Archivo Central del Congreso de la Nación
- Un paseo por la Asunción de ayer- Secretaría Nacional de Cultura
- Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María- Vatican News
- Intendente y Arzobispo coordinan festejos por festividades de la Virgen y la fundación de Asunción- Municipalidad de Asunción
- PODER LEGISLATIVO- Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social