Constitution Day in 2024

When is Spanish Constitution Day?

This nation-wide public holiday is always celebrated on December 6th and marks the approval of the Spanish Constitution by the Spanish people in 1978.

History of Spanish Constitution Day

As part of the Spanish transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, a general election took place in 1977 to convene the Cortes Generales (Parliament) for the purpose of drafting and approving a constitution (this is called Cortes Constituyentes).

A seven-member panel was selected among the elected members of the Cortes to work on a draft of the Constitution to be submitted to the Cortes. These so-called Fathers of the Constitution were Gabriel Cisneros, José Pedro Pérez-Llorca, Miguel Herrero de Miñon, Miquel Roca, Manuel Fraga Iribarne, Gregorio Peces-Barba and Jordi Solé Tura.

The Constitution was approved by the Cortes on October 31st 1978, and by the Spanish people in a referendum on December 6th 1978, before being promulgated by King Juan Carlos on December 27th. The Constitution set out how the government would be run, what powers they had and determined the governmental system that Spain would operate on.

Constitution Day is, therefore, a celebration of the day Spain became a democracy and December 6th has been a national holiday in Spain since 1983.

Spain's Congress opens its doors to the public on December 6th and those that visit on this day will be given a commemorative gift.

The day is seen by most Spaniards as the start of the December holidays and a long weekend is normally taken in conjunction with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

In recent years, however, Constitution Day has become more popular for protest marches and political statements.