Your family's first summer, Christmas and school holidays in Spain

Terms used

• Semana Santa — Semana Santa is Holy Week, the week before Easter, with processions and a school break of about one week.
• ESO — ESO is compulsory secondary education in Spain, for ages roughly 12 to 16.
• Nochebuena — Nochebuena is Christmas Eve, 24 December, when Spanish families have their main Christmas meal.
• Roscón de Reyes — The roscón de Reyes is a ring-shaped sweet cake eaten around 6 January.

Key rules

• School calendar: Each region sets its own school dates, so use your school's calendar, not a national one.
• Summer: The summer break lasts about eleven weeks, so book camps or activities early.
• Heat: Keep children out of the sun from about 12 to 17 h and call 112 or your pediatrician for fever, drowsiness or vomiting.
• Christmas closures: Most shops, offices and banks close on 25 December, 1 January and 6 January.
• Gifts: Children receive gifts mainly on 6 January, after the parades on 5 January.

Plan the breaks before they arrive

Spain's long school breaks are the moments when a new family is most likely to feel alone. School gives your children friends and you a routine. When it stops, so does that. Decide what you will do in each break a few weeks ahead, not the week before.

Summer is the longest and hardest break

Summer holiday runs from around 19 to 24 June, when primary and compulsory secondary (ESO) finish, until the school year starts again in the first half of September, roughly 4 to 12 September. That is about eleven weeks.

• Book activities early. Look at your town hall and local sports clubs for summer camps (campamentos) and swimming courses. Ask the school what families usually do.
• Plan around the heat. Keep children out of the sun in the central hours, roughly 12 to 17 h. Do outdoor play early or late, and use the middle of the day for indoor activities, a pool or the library.
• Keep the home cool. Close blinds in the day and open windows at night. For sleep, use light bedding and do not over-wrap babies.
• Give plenty of fluids. Offer water often, or feeds for babies, and dress children in light, loose cotton. Never leave a child in a parked car.
• Know when to get help. For fever, drowsiness, vomiting or a dry mouth, call 112 or your pediatrician. The warning below covers the signs in more detail.

The national health plan for heat runs each summer from about 1 June to 15 September. Check current heat alerts with the Ministry of Health and AEMET, the state weather agency.

Christmas is short but full of closures

School closes from about 22 or 23 December and returns around 6 or 7 January. Most shops, offices and banks are shut on 25 December, 1 January and 6 January. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are often half days, so shop for food early.

Know the customs so your children are not left out:

• 22 December: the "El Gordo" lottery draw.
• 24 December (Nochebuena): the big family meal, with a second on Christmas Day.
• 5 January: the Cabalgatas de Reyes parades.
• 6 January: children get their gifts mainly now, and families eat the roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake.

If you have no family nearby, say yes to invitations from neighbours or school parents. Go to the parade: it is free and a good place to meet people.

Easter is about one week

Semana Santa gives roughly a week off around Holy Week. Good Friday is a national holiday, Holy Thursday is a holiday in most regions, and Easter Monday is one in some, such as Catalonia, Valencia and the Basque Country. Some regions also add the Monday after Easter to the school break.

Processions are especially big in the south. Many families travel, so book trains and accommodation early if you want to go away, and expect busy towns.

Dates differ by region

Each region sets its own school calendar, within a national minimum of 175 teaching days. Local holidays and a few free-choice days are set by region, town and each school. Private and international schools may follow different calendars. Get your school's calendar as soon as you enrol and put every closure in your diary.

The timeline below lists the typical dates, and the FAQ answers common questions.

Timeline and deadlines

• Easter (Semana Santa) break: about one week around Holy Week

• Summer holiday: from late June through to the start of the next school year in September

What to watch out for

• Summer heat is risky for young children: Children, especially under 4, can get ill quickly in Spain's summer heat, which the national plan covers from about 1 June to 15 September. Offer water or feeds often, dress them in light, loose cotton, keep them out of the sun from about 12 to 17 h, and use cool showers.

• Hot bedrooms disturb sleep and can overheat babies: A hot room breaks sleep for the whole family and over-wrapping a baby adds to the risk.

• Signs of heat illness need quick action: Fever, drowsiness, vomiting or a dry mouth in a child during hot weather can be serious. Call 112 or your pediatrician straight away.

Frequently asked questions

Who decides the school holiday dates in Spain?

Each comunidad autónoma sets its own school calendar, usually through an annual order from its education department. Local holidays and a few free days are then set by region, municipality and each school's council. Private and international schools may follow a different calendar, so ask your child's school for its dates.

When does the Christmas school break start and end?

The Christmas break usually runs from about 22 or 23 December to 6 or 7 January. Children get most of their gifts on 6 January, after the Cabalgatas de Reyes parades on 5 January. Many shops and offices are closed on 25 December, 1 January and 6 January.

Is Easter a long school break in Spain?

Easter (Semana Santa) is about one week of school break around Holy Week. Some regions also add the Monday after Easter. Good Friday is a holiday everywhere, and Holy Thursday is a holiday in most regions, so plan any travel early because many families go away.

When should I call a doctor about my child in summer heat?

Call 112 or your pediatrician if your child has fever, drowsiness, vomiting or a dry mouth in the heat. Children under 4 are most at risk, so offer water or feeds often and keep them out of the sun in the central hours, about 12 to 17 h.