In the British Commonwealth countries, and in Ireland, a "long weekend" is a weekend that is at least three days long, due to a public holiday falling on either the Friday or Monday. Or a four-day weekend, in which two days adjoining the weekend are holidays. Examples: Easter Monday / Good Friday and Christmas Day / Boxing Day. The term is often known as a "Bank Holiday" weekend, since bank holidays always fall on a Monday.
In the United States, on the fourth Thursday of November the traditional "Thanksgiving Day" is celebrated, and the adjacent Friday is made into a non-working day at some businesses. This Friday is considered an unofficial holiday known as "Black Friday", which starts the shopping season. Many shops open their doors very early and offer discounted products at factory cost or even at lower prices to attract the public.
A "Bridge" is an expression used in Western countries to mean taking additional holiday days, it is formed by joining one holiday with another one, or a weekend. In some places the expression "Sandwich" is used to refer to a working day that falls between two holidays, and workers may take it off on account on vacation days.
In Spain, the celebration of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 (on Wednesday 6 December) and the Day of the Immaculate Conception (on Friday 8 December) form a block of five days, one of the most important "bridges" in the calendar that opens the doors of Christmas time.
In French culture there is the equivalent: "Faire le Pont", as well as between Italians and Portuguese with "Ponte". In Germany and Switzerland the bridge is called a "Brückentag", "Fenstertag" in Austria and "Brugdag" in the Netherlands.
HOLIDAYS
In Spain, a worker has 15 holidays a year: 12 days of national holiday, 1 regional day and 2 local days. Like Spain, all countries have a number of holidays -in general, between 10 and 15 days- distributed throughout the year. The majority of EU states maintain this figure, although economic problems have meant the reduction of some holidays.
In spring we have "Semana Santa" or Easter, a religious holiday for Christians. Holidays are Holy Thursday and Good Friday. In general these dates are a small vacation to rest or travel. On 1 May, as in many other countries, the "International Labour Day" is celebrated.
On 15 August is the "Day of the Assumption of the Virgin". In Málaga, it is the central day of the "Fair" that takes place in that week. In Andalucía we celebrate, on 28 February, our Statute of Autonomy.
On 12 October, the holiday is civil and religious. The "Day of Hispanidad", both in Spain and in Latin America we remember the discovery of America. In addition, it is the onomastic of the "Virgen del Pilar", patron saint of Spain.
On 1 November is "All Saints Day". It is typical to visit the cemetery and lay flowers on the graves.
On 25 December, "Christmas Day" is a holiday, but it is not "Christmas Eve: Nochebuena". On 1 January or "New Year" starts on "New Year's Eve: Nochevieja".
On 6 January, Epiphany or "Day of the Magi: Día de los Reyes Magos", is very famous among Spanish children because they traditionally receive their gifts.
On 6 January, Epiphany or "Day of the Magi: Día de los Reyes Magos", is very famous among Spanish children because they traditionally receive their gifts.
