The Andalusia Day () is celebrated on 28 February and commemorates the 28 February 1980
referendum
A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
on the
Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia, in which the Andalusian electorate voted for the statute that made
Andalusia
Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...
an
autonomous community
The autonomous communities () are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Sp ...
of
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
.
Customs
In many municipalities and cities of Andalusia, people decorate their balconies with the regional
flag of Andalusia
A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and flags have ...
and with
bunting echoing its green-and-white bars. Cultural competitions are often held in conjunction with the day. In some cities, especially in the
Málaga
Málaga (; ) is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 591,637 in 2024, it is the second-most populo ...
area, schools are closed for a
Semana Cultural ("cultural week"), also known as
Semana Blanca ("white week"). The Friday before is often a day of celebration in schools with a traditional
Andalusian breakfast (''desayuno andaluz''), consisting of a slice of toast with a thin layer of olive oil and orange juice; students colour pictures that refer to the symbols and insignia of Andalusia, its history and customs, put on plays and sing the national
anthem
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...
, the ''
Himno de Andalucía''.
Historic observances
2007
The holiday in 2007 included a
plenary session
A plenary session or plenum is a session of a conference or deliberative assembly in which all parties or members are present. Such a session may include a broad range of content, from keynotes to panel discussions, and is not necessarily r ...
of the
Parliament of Andalusia
The Parliament of Andalusia () is the legislature of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia instituted by the Andalusian Charter of Autonomy of 1981. It is elected by the residents of Andalusia every four years.
Functions
*To elect the ...
at the
Teatro de la Maestranza
The Teatro de la Maestranza is an opera house located in Seville, Spain.
The theatre was conceived to be one of the main cultural venues of the Seville Expo '92, and the first performance took place in 1991, shortly before the inauguration of the ...
in
Seville
Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...
to grant that year's honour of
Hijo Predilecto de Andalucía ("Favourite son of Andalusia") to
José Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago (; 16 November 1922 – 18 June 2010) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese writer. He was the recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature for his "parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony ith which ...
and the Medal of Andalusia to Miguel Báez Espuny 'El Litri',
Miguel Báez Espuny">ith which ...
and the Medal of Andalusia to Miguel Báez Espuny 'El Litri', Real Betis Balompié, Carlos Cabezas Jurado">Real Betis Balompié">Miguel Báez Espuny">ith which ...