Navarre Day in Spain Date in the current year: December 3, 2024

Navarre is an autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, Aragon, and France. It is one of the historic Basque provinces, along with the three provinces that make up the Basque Country (Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa). Before becoming a province of Spain, it was a major part of the long-standing Kingdom of Navarre.

The Kingdom of Navarre formed around the city of Pamplona during the early centuries of the Reconquista. Its first ruler was the Basque chieftain Íñigo Arista, who defeated the Carolingian army at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 824 and was subsequently elected King of Pamplona. The kingdom existed for more than a thousand years, although during that time it experienced periods of rule by Aragon and France and lost some of its territories. It officially became a province of Spain in 1841 and has been one ever since.

Navarre is the birthplace of Francis Xavier, a famous Catholic missionary best known for co-founding the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) and leading the first Catholic mission to Japan. He was born into a noble family in the town of Xavier in 1506. At the age of 19, Francis went to Paris to study, where four years later he met Ignatius of Loyola.

In 1534, Francis, Ignatius of Loyola, and five other students took private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, laying the foundation of the Jesuit Order. Francis began to study theology and was ordained three years later. In 1540, Pope Paul III formally approved their plan for the Society of Jesus, and soon Francis began his missionary work. He traveled to India in 1541, to the Malay Peninsula in 1545–1546, to Japan in 1549, becoming the first Jesuit to visit Japan as a missionary, and to China in 1551.

Francis Xavier died of a fever in China on December 3, 1552. Originally buried on Shangchuan Island, his body was moved to Saint Paul’s Church in Malacca in 1553 and then to the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa. Francis Xavier was beatified in 1619 and canonized in 1622.

Saint Francis Xavier was officially declared the patron saint of Navarre in 1624. In 1657, Pope Alexander VII declared Saint Fermin and Saint Francis Xavier to be co-patrons of Navarre. The feast day of Saint Francis Xavier has been celebrated in Navarre since the 17th century, sometimes officially, sometimes not. In 1985, the Parliament of Navarre officially declared it the Day of Navarre.

Despite the official status of Navarre Day, it is not a public holiday, so government offices and businesses have normal opening hours, unless December 3 falls on a weekend. Festive events and activities held on and around the Day of Navarre include church services and religious processions in honor of Saint Francis Xavier, the presentation of the Gold Medal of Navarre, concerts, various family activities, and more. The main events are held in the capital of Navarre, Pamplona, but some activities take place in towns and villages throughout the community.