The students of Casvi International American School wanted to celebrate, together with their teachers and classmates, the well-known Spanish Constitution Day. They have done so throughout the day through numerous and original activities that have helped them introduce themselves to Spanish culture in a different and fun way.
What is Constitution Day?
In Spain, Constitution Day is not just a national holiday. “We must be aware of the importance of providing ourselves with fundamental rights that cannot be enjoyed everywhere in the world,” says our professor of Spanish Culture, Mr. Herranz. Constitution Day is celebrated on December 6, a day that commemorates the 1978 referendum in which the entire Spanish people approved, by a large majority, the current Constitution that we are governed by today. During this day, the State Administration, the Armed Forces, and the educational centers throughout the country celebrate various commemorative acts.
On December 6, a national holiday is celebrated in Spain that pays tribute to the Magna Carta of all Spaniards, which sets out their rights and duties, freedoms, the organization of the State and all constitutional guarantees.
The celebration of Constitution Day has an important political and historical background, commemorating the consolidation of democracy in the country.
Why is it celebrated on this day?
Constitution Day is celebrated on December 6 in commemoration of the approval of the Constitution by the Spanish people.
On December 6, 1978, a referendum was held in Spain to approve the Constitution, with a single, direct and simple question: Do you approve of the draft Constitution? To which nearly 90% of Spaniards answered: Yes.
How is this day celebrated in Spain?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the celebration will be different, but in a normal scenario during Constitution Day, commemorative acts are usually held in the streets and squares of the cities, with flags being raised and popular races taking place.
In addition, the Congress usually holds Open Days so that citizens can learn about the scenario of the elaboration of the Constitution, can be photographed in the seats and tour the Hemicycle. There are also readings of the Constitution, such as the one made by our student Carmen for the Town Hall of Tres Cantos.
For their part, the students of Casvi International American School have also wanted to do different activities to commemorate and learn more about this day. To do this, they have inquired about the different rights and duties that Spaniards have, and have proposed those that are most important to them. Afterwards, they have begun to evaluate if the Constitution really reflects these concerns of our students. Their conclusion has been very positive.
The students of Casvi International American School have not only learned more about the culture of our country, but they have also managed to develop skills and aptitudes such as those told by Mr. Posey, our PYP Coordinator. “We have focused on the transdisciplinary theme of the IB: Where we are in space and time, so that our students, now more than ever, know from a cultural point of view what it means to live in these times.
Every day, our students discover, investigate and learn new subjects. This makes them more autonomous in their learning and perfectionist in their results. At Casvi International American School we work with an IB methodology based on the American curriculum. This makes our students internationally minded people who make lasting contributions to the world. In addition, by having an American curriculum with native teachers, our students experience complete language immersion, which undoubtedly puts them at an advantage in their professional future.
The most unknown facts about the Spanish Constitution
- The Spanish Constitution has 169 articles, 4 additional provisions, 9 transitional provisions, one derogatory and one final. This makes it one of the most extensive texts in Europe.
- The Constitution needed laws to regulate the different aspects it talks about. In the first year after its approval, the Courts passed 45 laws.
- Despite having more than 40 years of history, it has only been reformed on two occasions; one to regulate the foreign vote; and another for budgetary stability.
- Nobel Prize winner Camilo José Cela reviewed the Constitution grammatically.
