British Society of Catalunya
Emporda Branch
Holidays and Fiestas
Opening Hours - Public HolidaysEveryone has heard of the 'Siesta' - the little snooze after lunch - although they may not have had the opportunity or the inclination to practice it. It is however a part of life in Catalunya and other parts of Spain.
You must expect that the shop you want to visit will be open from 09.30 (9.30 a.m.) to 13.00 (1.00 p.m.) and again from 16.30 (4.30 p.m.) to 19.30 (7.30 p.m.) as a general rule. It may also open or close earlier or later than these times. It may in fact not close at all at lunchtime. Be guided by experience.
The level of autonomy granted the various provinces also means that some provinces have holidays on different days from those in other provinces. The following list includes the National and Catalan holidays.
Public Holidays
| January 1 | July 25 (St Jaime, not in Catalunya) |
| January 6 (Epiphany) | August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin) |
| Thursday before Easter (not Catalunya) | September 11 (Catalunya only, La Diada) |
| Good Friday | September 24 (Feste de La Merce, Catalunya)) |
| Easter Sunday | October 12 (National Day) |
| Easter Monday (Catalunya and parts of Spain) | November 1 (All Saints) |
| May 1 | December 6 (Constitution Day) |
| Ascension Day (not in Catalunya) | December 8 (Immaculate Conception) |
| Corpus Christi (not in Catalunya) | December 25 |
| June 24 (St Joan, the King's name-saint) | December 26 (Catalunya only) |
Dates of Easter : 2009 - 2018
Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after after March 21.
| 2009 | April 12 | 2010 | April 4 | |
| 2011 | April 24 | 2012 | April 8 | |
| 2013 | March 31 | 2014 | April 20 | |
| 2015 | April 5 | 2016 | March 27 | |
| 2017 | April 16 | 2018 | April 1 |