Ceuta Day in Spain 2023: Date, History, Facts about Ceuta

Every year, Ceuta Day is observed on September 2. This festival, also known as ‘Dia de Ceuta,’ celebrates the independence of the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, Spain. And to celebrate, people typically remain at home or take part in street celebrations. As this is a public holiday, the majority of commercial establishments, enterprises, and government offices will be closed. In contrast to most other holidays, the commemoration of Ceuta Day is typically quiet and peaceful. However, some individuals use this day as an occasion to demonstrate at the Morocco-Spain border in opposition to Spain’s control over the city.

The background of Ceuta Day

Ceuta, a metropolis on the Strait of Gibraltar located on the north coast of Africa in the kingdom of Morocco, has become an important location. Its location and lack of appropriate governance in its early years made it easy for foreign settlers sailing between the Mediterranean and Atlantic to colonise the city. In fact, the city has been colonised by the Carthaginians, the Byzantine Empire, and the Romans, among others. In the eighth century, Muslims seized control of Ceuta. Its lengthy and illustrious history explains why modern-day Ceuta is a melting pot of cultures and traditions.

Ceuta Day dates back to August 14, 1415, when King John I of Portugal colonised the city of Ceuta. This expedition, known as the Conquest of Ceuta, was uncomplicated due to the king’s dependable soldiers. But on September 2, approximately three weeks after his initial conquest, the king departed and handed the city over to Pedro de Menezes, Count of Viana de Alentejo. This victory was originally commemorated on August 22, 1415, but Portugal’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar pushed the date to September 2.

Eventually, they adopted the flag of Lisbon as the official flag of Ceuta. The coat of arms of the Portuguese flag is still at the centre of the modern flag of the city. Throughout the succeeding centuries, Spain and Portugal engaged in conflict over Ceuta. Under the Treaty of Lisbon, the city was ceded to King Carlos II of Spain on January 1, 1668.

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5 Interesting CEUTA Facts

Its 82,000 inhabitants consist of Christians, ethnic Sindhi Hindus, Muslims, and Sherpedic Jews.

The only entry and departure to Ceuta are the two checkpoints, which are surrounded by 20-foot-tall double fences.

Ceuta is a maritime city measuring 18.1 square kilometres.

Although French, Berber, and Moroccan Arabic are widely spoken, the official language of Ceuta is Spanish.

BirdLife International designates Ceuta as an Important Bird Area (I.B.A.) due to the abundance of avian species that congregate in the city.

CEUTA DAY DATES