The Day of Galicia on is a religious festival honoring Saint James and a national holiday celebrating Galician identity, culture, and language. Born in 1919 as a nationalist movement, suppressed under Franco, and revived after democracy, it remains Galicia's most important civic and cultural celebration.

When is the Day of Galicia?

The Day of Galicia is celebrated every year on July 25.

The following is the list of the Day of Galicia from 2020 to 2049.

The History of the Day of Galicia?

July 25 is the Feast of Saint James the Apostle (Santiago Apóstol), patron saint of Galicia and all of Spain. The tradition comes from the belief that Saint James' remains are buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which became one of Europe's most important pilgrimage centers in the Middle Ages.

In 1919, the cultural and nationalist group Irmandades da Fala (Brotherhoods of the Language) declared July 25 as the National Day of Galicia (Día Nacional de Galicia). They chose this date because of its strong symbolic link to Santiago, and to highlight Galician identity, language, and self-determination.

During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939–1975), regional nationalist expressions were banned, including public celebrations of the Day of Galicia. The holiday continued unofficially in Galicia and was especially celebrated by the Galician diaspora and exiles abroad, keeping the cultural flame alive.

After Franco's death (1975) and Spain's transition to democracy, Galician political and cultural movements revived the celebration. In 1977, mass demonstrations were organized in Santiago de Compostela, turning the day into both a cultural and political event.

With the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia (1981), July 25 was formally recognized as a regional holiday.

Today, the Day of Galicia has a dual character: honoring Saint James with pilgrimages and a solemn High Mass in Santiago Cathedral, and celebrations of Galician music, literature and traditions.