Public Holidays
| Date | English name | Local name | Observance |
|---|---|---|---|
| March/April | Holy Week/Easter | Semana Santa | Celebrated with Carnival-like events in different cities by the large Catholic population. |
| May 1 | Labor Day | Día del trabajo | International Labour Day |
| May 3 | The Day of the Cross | Día de la Cruz | A celebration with precolonial origins, linked to the advent of the rainy season. People decorate a cross in their yards with fruit and garlands, in the belief that if they do not, the devil will appear and dance at their yard. They then go from house to house to kneel in front of the altar and make the sign of the cross. |
| May 10 | Mothers' Day | Día de las Madres | A day to celebrate motherhood, similar to many other countries Mother's Day. |
| August 1–7 | August Festivals* | Fiestas de agosto | Week-long festival in celebration of El Salvador del Mundo, patron saint of San Salvador. |
| September 15 | Independence Day | Día de la Independencia | Celebrates independence from Spain, achieved in 1821. |
| October 1 | Day of the children | "Día del niño" | Celebration dedicated to the Children of the country, celebrated across the country. |
| October 12 | Day of the race | Día de la raza | Celebration dedicated to Christopher Columbus' arrival in America. |
| November 2 | Day of the Dead | El día de los difuntos | A day when most people visit the tombs of deceased loved ones. (November 1 may be commemorated as well.) |
| November 7–13 | National Festival Of Pupusa | Festival Nacional De La Pupusa | This week is the national commemoration of the national food (Pupusa). |
| November 21 | Queen of the Peace Day | Dia de la Reina de la Paz | Day of the Queen of Peace, the patron saint. Also celebrated, the San Miguel Carnival, (carnaval de San Miguel), celebrated in San Miguel City, similar to Mardi Gras of New Orleans, where one can enjoy about 45 music bands on the street. |
| December 25 | Christmas Day (Celebrated Dec. 24th) | Noche Buena | In many communities, December 24 (Christmas Eve) is the major day of celebration, often to the point that it is considered the actual day of Navidad — with December 25 serving as a day of rest. |
| December 31 | New Year's Eve | Fin de año | The final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day is celebrated in El Salvador with family reunions. |
Read more about this topic: Health In El Salvador, Culture
Famous quotes containing the word public:
“The appropriation of radical thinking by lazy, self-obsessed hippies is a public relations disaster that could cost the earth.”
—Ben Elton (b. 1959)