What are ‘red days’ in Spain?

What is a red day, when are the red days in Spain and why does any of it matter?

Closed on a red day!*

[If you're in a rush you can check out the 2025 red days below!]

Today (when posted) is one of many ‘día rojo’ (or red day) here in Spain (well, our part of Spain anyway). Specifically, this one is (was) ‘Three Kings Day’ or ‘El Día del los Reyes Magos’ when, in our village anyway, the ‘three kings’ drive through town on a Christmassy float and pelt all the kids (and anyone else in their line of sight) with sweets! We made the mistake of having front row seats at our local bar in the central plaza so, whilst we avoided black eyes, we most certainly got struck several times with some hard sweets (which we then passed onto the kids, of course)!

But what does a ‘red day’ actually mean? It’s widely understood to be known as that because it was traditionally marked in red on calendars and is still the case in many shop and supermarket windows! Be warned - depending on where you are, this generally means there will be absolutely nothing at all open in your village or town, or the next village or the one after that! The occasional petrol station shop may be open but, if you haven’t got yourself organised, you may very well find yourself with no bottled water, milk or anything for dinner. As things are often closed on Sundays here in Spain (as Sunday is often also considered a red day away from the coast), this can come as an even less welcome surprise if you forget about it, as we have numerous times!

But, back to today, January 6th and why the tradition of sweets being ‘distributed’ by the Three Kings…. For many people in Spain, it marks the end of the festive period and is an important family celebration with fiestas, parades and fun for the kids. And, it definitely constitutes a red day here in Spain as businesses close and people celebrate over one or two days with family and friends.

This is our first Christmas here in Spain and it’s been fun to learn that the Spanish tend to celebrate Christmas and NY differently to Britain, the US and NZ/Aus etc. Even better, is that there’s some fun traditions to boot! Celebrations vary, of course, but generally Christmas Eve (rather than Christmas Day) is a celebration with family and friends (keep reading for one of the more unusual Christmas traditions). New Years Eve may often involve a midnight mass and/or a meal with family and friends. The night culminates in what’s known as ‘Las doce uvas de la suerte' or 'the twelve grapes of luck’, when, to bring luck in the coming year, you must eat 12 grapes in the final 60 seconds before the bells toll for midnight (it’s harder than it sounds)! Grab some grapes and have a crack at it! We’d suggest seedless.

Then, as we’ve said, today wraps it all up. In fact, it’s the day when many of the kids get, not only plenty of sweets tossed their way, but they often receive their pressies as it’s The Three Kings rather than Santa Claus that delivers here.

Finally, we promised to leave you with one other what some may think totally bonkers (but we think great) Christmas traditions in parts of Spain.

Catalunya, in particular, is known for the tradition of the ‘Caga Tió’… A wooden log with legs, a face and a Christmas/Santa hat which the children look after and ‘feed’ each day in the run up to Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, they sing the Caga Tió song, whack the log with a stick and ask him to poop out treats, traditionally including turrón (sweet nougat). Once the song is finished, they take off Tió’s blanket to discover all of their hidden sweets.

I actually bought Eppie a ‘Caga Tio’ this year and he pooped out some cashew nuts and her favourite Haribo for her as thanks for her ‘keeping him warm and well fed’ in the run up to Christmas!

So, that’s one new tradition for us that will surely last. More to come, I’m sure!

P.S. Because we don’t want you to be caught out like we’ve been, here’s the rest of the red days for Spain 2025 (note there may be more in your region)!

• Wednesday, January 1st: New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)

• Monday, January 6th: Epiphany (Día de los Reyes Magos)

• Friday, April 18th: Good Friday (Viernes Santo)

• Monday, April 21st: Easter Monday

• Tuesday, May 1st: Labour Day (Fiesta del Trabajo)

• Friday. August 15th: Assumption of Mary

• Sunday, October 12th: National Day of Spain (Fiesta Nacional de España)

• Saturday, November 1st: All Saints’ Day

• Saturday, December 6th: Spanish Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución Española)

• Monday, December 8th: Immaculate Conception

• Thursday, December 25th: Christmas Day (Navidad)

There's more on moving to, and life in, Spain here.

*Photo credit: With thanks to Paula Andrea for the image.