Andorran Constitution Day : March 14th.

Constitution Day is a public holiday in Andorra.

Constitution Day in Andorra is celebrated on March 14. It is one of four days in the tiny European country when everything must close for business, along with New Years Day, National Day, and Christmas. It is a day that commemorates the referendum of March 14, 1993, in which the country’s constitution was approved with 74 percent support of Andorrans.

History of Constitution Day in Andorra

The Principality of Andorra is governed by the supreme law of the constitution of Andorra. Andorra is a fairly isolated country in southwestern Europe. It has remained out of the mainstream history of Europe, holding only loose ties to France and Spain.

Recently Andorra has grown due to an increase in tourism, better communication tools, and streamlined transportation systems. By 1993, the country needed to renew its own laws and refresh the political system, looking forward to joining the United Nations and the Council of Europe. It was then that the new constitution was elaborated and adopted on February 2, 1993. Later, on March 14, a referendum was held and the Constitution was approved by the people of Andorra. It entered into force on April 28.

One curiosity that can be found in the constitution, from Articles 43 to 49, is the fact that Andorra recognizes two co-princes, the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France, in a system that has existed for centuries and seems to be unique in the world. This happened primarily because Andorra during the 12th century was ceded to the Bishop of Urgell by the Count Ermengol IV of Urgell.

Andorra’s Constitution Day Traditions, Customs and Activities.

On this day, all businesses in Andorra are closed, even though the government in recent years has allowed shops in areas visited by tourists and in ski resorts to remain open. But, all over the country everything else is closed for business. There are special messages from the co-princes and government officials broadcast through TV and radio. The whole country is filled with colorful flags of blue, red, and yellow, and there are cultural events organized all over the country. In the capital, Andorra la Vella, there are fireworks displays at the end of the day and concerts.