31 December marked as New Year’s Eve on the calendar.
Credit : A_Iv, Shutterstock
Every year, as Spain slips into Christmas mode and the streets fill with lights, markets and last-minute shoppers, one question starts circling offices and WhatsApp groups: “Do we get 31 December off… or not?”
It comes up without fail, no matter how many times it’s explained, because Christmas in Spain isn’t just a date on a calendar – it’s a whole season with its own rituals, rhythms and expectations.
And this year is no exception. With families already planning dinners, trips and gatherings, workers across the country are once again trying to work out exactly which days are officially holidays, which are not, and which simply feel like they should be.
Christmas: more than lights and dinners
Spain takes Christmas seriously. Really seriously.
From early December, there’s a sense that life softens around the edges. The big cities switch on their light displays, small towns set up their nativity scenes, and families start preparing for the marathon of meals that runs from Christmas Eve all the way to Three Kings.
The sound of children rehearsing carols, the smell of turrón, and the famous Lotería de Navidad, which temporarily unites the country in shared hope, all announce that the festive season has arrived.
It’s the time of year when work naturally slows – or at least tries to – and when people use up the last of their holiday allowance to stretch out their break.
But traditions aside, workers still need clarity. And that’s where the yearly confusion starts.
The dates that are official holidays
Let’s clear away the easiest part: in Spain, three dates are guaranteed national, non-working holidays, every year, everywhere:
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 1 January – New Year’s Day
- 6 January – Epiphany / Three Kings
Nothing changes there.
In Catalonia, there’s one more:
- 26 December – Sant Esteve, also a non-working day and just as significant as Christmas Day for many families.
Those are the only fixed, national (or regional) public holidays of the festive period.
And the big question: is 31 December a holiday?
Short answer: no.
Long answer: still no… but it’s complicated.
Neither Christmas Eve (24 December) nor New Year’s Eve (31 December) appear on the national holiday calendar.
They are normal working days, legally speaking.
But in practice? Many companies treat them differently.
Some close early. Some offer reduced hours. Some give the whole day off as a goodwill gesture after a long year.
Others – especially those in retail, hospitality or essential services – work full schedules and often even longer hours.
There’s no legal obligation for companies to reduce the day or offer time off. When they do, it’s out of custom, tradition or internal policy.
And although many workers assume these dates “don’t count”, the law is clear: 24 and 31 December are not public holidays.
Why these dates matter so much
Part of the confusion comes from how emotionally loaded the season is. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are two of the most important nights of the year in Spain.
They’re moments for big family meals, reunions and long-established traditions – so naturally, many people expect the day to be treated like a holiday.
At the same time, this period brings its own financial pressure. Christmas gifts, travel, food, nights out and the dreaded cuesta de enero create a particular kind of stress that pushes workers to organise their time (and money) well in advance.
That’s why knowing which days are official holidays – and which aren’t – matters so much.
What companies usually do
While the law doesn’t force companies to shorten the working day on 24 or 31 December, many choose to do so anyway.
It’s a popular way of acknowledging staff effort over the year and allowing people a bit more breathing space before major celebrations.
But it remains a company decision, not a legal right.
Employees need to check their collective agreement, internal policy or direct company communication.
Some workplaces stick to tradition.
Others adjust year by year.
Some treat the days like any other.
And that’s precisely why the question keeps coming back every December.