The Spanish work calendar once again puts the spotlight on what for many is the last great respite before Christmas: the Constitution and Immaculate Conception long weekend, one of the most anticipated times of the year for workers, students and families looking for a getaway before the end of the school year and the start of the holidays.
In 2025, this long weekend comes with a peculiar configuration. Although it is not the classic five-day extended long weekend, it does guarantee a long weekend for all of Spain, with the possibility of extending it to four days if requested off on the previous Friday.
Two back-to-back national holidays: the basis of the long weekend
The December long weekend revolves around two national holidays of a non-substitutable nature:
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December 6, Spanish Constitution Day
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December 8, Immaculate Conception Day
Both dates always appear together in the calendar, allowing in many years to build long getaways if they strategically coincide with weekends.
In 2025 something different happens: the holidays do not form a traditional bridge, but they do consolidate an assured rest for the entire population.
Immaculate Conception Day Calendar 2025: how it falls each day
To understand the true scope of the bridge, it is enough to look at how the dates are distributed:
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Friday, December 5, 2025. Working day, but strategic. Those who request this day off will be able to enjoy a four-day macro-break.
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Saturday, December 6, 2025 – Constitution Day. As it falls on a Saturday, it has a lesser impact on those who work Monday through Friday, although it is still a national holiday.
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Sunday, December 7, 2025. Weekend day.
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Monday, December 8, 2025 – Immaculate Conception Day. The key holiday of the long weekend. As it is Monday, it guarantees a three-day long weekend for the whole of Spain, without the need to ask for vacations.
The core of the long weekend runs from December 6 to 8, but the possibility of applying on Friday the 5th makes this period one of the most desirable of the year.
Public holiday throughout Spain: a 100% national long weekend
One of the characteristics that make this long weekend so popular is that the two national holidays are non-substitutable. This means that December 6 and 8
Thus, Monday, December 8 will be a holiday in Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, Galicia, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Aragon, Navarre, Valencia, Extremadura, La Rioja, Murcia, Asturias, and also in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
This coincidence of days off throughout the country makes the long weekend a particularly attractive opportunity for domestic tourism and for organizing family reunions. In addition, in most school calendars both days are not school days, which facilitates family plans.
What makes the December long weekend so special? Tradition, travel and Christmas lights
The Constitution and Immaculate Conception long weekend is not just a work break marked on the calendar: for many families, it is the symbolic start of Christmas throughout Spain. On these dates, cities and towns take the opportunity to officially turn on their Christmas lights, inaugurate the first Advent markets and launch cultural activities that mark the beginning of the festive season.
For those who decide to travel, the offer is especially varied. Urban tourism is experiencing one of its most active moments, with large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia becoming centers of cultural activity, shopping and leisure. Illuminated streets, street markets and special programming make these cities very popular destinations.
There are also those who prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle and opt for rural tourism, looking for country houses, mountain routes or quiet getaways in the middle of nature. It is an ideal period for those who wish to disconnect before the inevitable intense rhythm that Christmas brings.
In addition, this long weekend usually coincides with the start of the ski season, which makes it the first great time of the year to go up to the snow. This long weekend, the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada and the Cantabrian Mountains will see their first big influx of visitors, especially among those who do not want to wait any longer to put on their skis or board.
