All over Spain, the beginning of December is marked by a special week, the long weekend in December, also known as the long weekend of the Constitution, which includes the 6th and 8th of December as bank holidays. The Spanish population takes advantage of these days to take a getaway before Christmas, so in this article we suggest a series of original plans to enjoy this long weekend to the fullest.
If you are thinking of visiting Barcelona or Costa Dorada, during these next few days, we recommend you to book, in advance, the private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, that Shuttle2Sun puts at your disposal to get to your destination, comfortably and quickly, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
But what exactly is being celebrated?
This magnificent long weekend includes two specific dates: the 6th of December, Constitution Day, and the 8th of December, Immaculate Conception Day.
The former refers to the day on which the Spanish Constitution was ratified by the Spanish people in a referendum on the 6th of November, 1978.
Its text constitutes the core of the entire political system and legal system of Spain, and includes the rules, fundamental rights and public freedoms, as well as the different public powers and the organisation of the State. After its approval by referendum, it came into force on the 29th of December, 1978.
On the other hand, there is the Immaculate Conception Day, whose origin goes back centuries. Since the 17th century, the Catholic Church has celebrated this day as the day on which the Virgin Mary was conceived.
This date was approximately intuited, since she was born on the 8th of September, and, to calculate her conception, 9 months were subtracted, until December of the previous year.
However, this belief was not approved by the Vatican until 1854. In addition, the Immaculate Conception is the patron saint of the Spanish infantry, on the occasion of the Miracle of Empel.
Barcelona Manga Fair
If you love manga and anime, you can’t miss the 29th edition of the Barcelona Manga Fair 2023, which takes place from the 7th to 10th of December at Fira Barcelona Gran Via.
This year, in addition to the many stands of books, figures, accessories, fashion and much more, it includes four exhibition areas: the exhibition ‘My neighbour Totoro. 35 visions: Tribute to the classic of Japanese animation’, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of this anime; an exhibition on popular characters from sports manga; the ITADAKIMANGA gastronomic section, on the most traditional dishes, such as ramen or mochis; and, finally, the Manga Kids Academy, with information on what Japanese schools are like and how they work.
This year’s programme will also feature guest artists, such as singers Anly, Ayumi Miyazaki, Centimillimental, Vicke Blanka and Yoko Ishida; authors Carles Dalmau, Maddi Rivas, Miriam Bonastre and Tokyo Genso; and producer Yosuke Kinoshita. Also, as a novelty, there will be a Manga Stream space, where you can follow live podcasts and interviews. Don’t miss out on your ticket.
If you don’t want to miss this event, get to Barcelona in a comfortable and sustainable way with Shuttle2Sun‘s private transfer services from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
World Press Photo 2023
This long weekend is an ideal opportunity to visit the World Press Photo 2023 exhibition, which arrived in Barcelona this November and will be on display until the 17th of December at Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona. You will be able to see the regional and global winners of this worldwide photojournalism competition.
To make your stay more pleasant, we recommend some accommodation in Barcelona: the 4-star Hotel Barcelona Universal, just 10 minutes from Las Ramblas; Catalonia Sagrada Familia hotel, just a few steps from Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes; and the 4-star Hotel Porta Fira, located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
Els llums of Sant Pau
If you’re already looking forward to Christmas, you can’t miss the ‘Els llums de Sant Pau‘, a Christmas light show at Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau in Barcelona, which will feature more than 20 light installations.
This large space offers a ‘videomapping’ (video animation on the façade of the site), with which you will learn about the history of time and faith in Christmas; and an ice rink inside the site, full of lights and colours, which will make you live an unforgettable experience.
Christmas markets in Tarragona and Reus
Another proposal, taking advantage of the proximity to Christmas, are the Christmas markets. Some of them are those of Reus, a fair with a wide range of products, from figures for the nativity scene, lights, home decorations, gastronomic products and, of course, the great Christmas tree, which will preside over Plaça Mercadal. In Tarragona you can also stroll around the Christmas Market on Rambla Nova.
In addition, in both markets, you can buy the ‘Tió de Nadal’, a traditional element of Catalan culture, ideal for Christmas decoration.
We also recommend, in this case, two accommodations in Tarragona: the Hotel AC Tarragona, very close to Plaça Imperial Tarraco, and the Hotel Lauria, located on Rambla Nova, just a few steps from the Christmas Market.
Do you want to spend the long weekend in Barcelona or Costa Dorada? Remember that with Shuttle2Sun‘s private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, you can reach your destination, without worries, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
