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The December long weekend is one of the most anticipated of the year and it’s usually one of the busiest shopping periods too as people take the opportunity to finalise their Christmas preparations. However, two bank holidays happening together means people will need to plan their shopping carefully, since the puente normally alters supermarket opening hours.

 

This year, Constitution Day falls on Saturday December 6, so most supermarkets will close, while the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on Monday the 8th, creating a long weekend that means schools and businesses will have a day off, in addition to grocery stores.

 

Both Constitution Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception are national holidays, so they’re red days all across Spain.

 

 

Mercadona maintains a strict policy of closing on holidays and Sundays, so it’s come as a bit of a shocker that the Valencian chain has opted to open during its usual hours of 9am to 9.30pm on Saturday December 6.

 

On Sunday the 7th and Monday the 8th, however, Mercadona’s 1,600 shops throughout Spain will be closed. From then until Christmas, opening hours will be from 9am to 9.30, Monday to Saturday, with closure every Sunday.

 

 

Lidl typically adopts a more flexible strategy on public holidays than its competitors, especially in large cities and touristy areas. During this December long weekend, the German chain will maintain its standard opening hours of 9am to 10pm in most stores on Saturday December 6.

 

As for Monday December 8, several stores will remain open, although some may operate on reduced hours, especially in quieter areas.

 

The company recommends checking the store locator to see if a particular store will be open on the holiday, as the decision depends in part on regional and municipal regulations.

 

In cities like Madrid, Barcelona, ​Sevilla and Valencia, it’s common for many Lidl stores to operate even on major holidays, making the chain a practical option for last-minute shopping.

 

 

The El Corte Inglés group will, as it does every December bank holiday weekend, be one of the widest and most accessible shopping options for consumers. Both the Hipercor and Supercor supermarkets typically have special opening hours on holidays, and this year will be no exception.

 

Many of the group's shopping centres are expected to remain open on both Saturday the 6th and Monday the 8th, with opening hours that usually range from 9am or 10am until 10pm.

 

However, as with Lidl, opening hours can vary depending on the region and the exact location of the store. Supermarkets in tourist areas, large cities or high-traffic areas tend to have longer opening hours.

 

The wide availability of El Corte Inglés makes it one of the most reliable shopping destinations during this long weekend, especially for those who need to do Christmas shopping, restock gourmet products or buy gifts.

 

Given that the December long weekend includes two national holidays and a Sunday in between, it's recommended that you plan your shopping in advance. Mercadona will be closed on two of the three key days, Lidl will offer partial openings, so El Corte Inglés is shaping up to be the most flexible option.

 

 

Image: Wikimedia Commons