Do you know which days are the public holidays in Gibraltar?
Today we’ll tell you which ones they are, their history, and how they are celebrated.
Public holidays vary from country to country… And although Gibraltar is located on the Iberian Peninsula, its working calendar follows that of the United Kingdom, so many holidays are shared, along with a few that are unique to the territory.
You may find some of the Gibraltar holidays quite curious or be surprised by how they're celebrated. Today, we take a tour of everyone’s favourite kind of day: those when you don’t have to work, and you get to celebrate instead.
May Day: One of the most well-known Gibraltar holidays
May Day is one of the most famous public holidays in Gibraltar. It’s celebrated on the 1st of May, and its origins go all the way back to Roman times. Back then, it was a celebration of the arrival of good weather and, although few know this, the festival was in honour of Flora, goddess of flowers and fruits.
It’s definitely a great day to visit Gibraltar and enjoy the joyful atmosphere in its streets.
Gibraltar public holiday: Spring Bank Holiday
If we translate it literally into Spanish, it would be something like "fiesta bancaria de primavera". The story behind this holiday — celebrated on the last Monday of May in the UK and Gibraltar — is quite interesting.
To understand its meaning, we must look back in history, when “bank holiday” literally meant a holiday for those working in the banking sector. These dates were first introduced in 1871 so that bankers could attend cricket matches.
There’s also a Late Summer Bank Holiday, held on the last Monday of August, as a sort of end-of-summer celebration.
These days were added as national holidays because the UK’s working calendar had fewer holidays compared to other countries.
The King’s Birthday
In Spain, it might seem unusual that the birthday of the British monarch is a public holiday in Gibraltar, but that’s the case. It is celebrated on the second Monday of June. And funnily enough, that’s not even the actual birthday of the monarch.
In the 18th century, British monarchs were given the option to have both a private (actual) birthday and a public one. King George II, who was born in November, chose to celebrate it in June to avoid the cold season for parades. That tradition has remained.
Gibraltar National Day
This is probably one of the most famous and important Gibraltar holidays, celebrated on September 10th. The date commemorates the 1967 referendum on Gibraltar’s sovereignty.
The celebrations fill the streets, and it's undoubtedly a unique opportunity to experience Gibraltar from a totally different perspective.
Gibraltar’s Christmas holiday: Boxing Day
This Gibraltar public holiday, shared with the United Kingdom, has a beautiful message behind it. It’s celebrated on December 26th, just after Christmas Day, and it encourages people to make donations and give gifts to those most in need.
Have you already marked these public holidays in Gibraltar in your calendar for a future visit? Count on our car hire in La Línea and Gibraltar. It’s definitely the best way to explore (and enjoy) first-hand all the traditions Gibraltar has to offer. Have a great trip!
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