Beaches Day in Uruguay

The "Day of the Beaches" has been celebrated on December 8 since 1919, when the separation of State and Church took place and many Catholic holidays were changed to secular names. The day of the Immaculate Conception, this day was then transformed into Beaches Day.

For Catholics it is the "Day of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception", date where traditionally the Christmas pine tree is assembled. However, since the Uruguayan State is secular, it is constitutionally recognized as "Beaches Day". And it is not the only date to which, through the process of secularization (separation of Church and State) the laws have changed the name: the law of October 23, 1919 also established December 25 as "Family Day" instead of "Christmas", January 6 as "Children's Day" instead of "Kings" and "Tourism Week" instead of "Holy Week".