Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pascua Militar (Military Easter) is an annual military ceremony held on January 6th, in Spain.
The troops gather in Plaza de la Armería (Armoury Square), outside of the Royal Palace. The Royal Family arrives at Noon. The King reviews the troops in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. Then, in the Throne Room of the Palace, awards are presented to military officers. The King also give a speech.
In addition to the event in Madrid, the day is also celebrated at other military headquarters throughout the country.
History
The event dates back to the reign of King Carlos III of Spain. In 1782, the American Revolutionary War was in it’s final phase. Spain had joined the American Patriots in the fight against Great Britain. On January 6th, 1782, Spanish & French forces successfully recaptured Menorca from Britain after months of siege. (Menorca is a island in the Mediterranean Sea.)
King Carlos ordered on January 6th, the following year, that all his military commander should assemble their officers in celebration. They were to offer thanks to the monarch and receive royal directives for the year. This gathering marked the first Pascua Militar.
Live Stream
The event is usually live streamed on the Monarch’s YouTube channel @CasaRealTV.
Royals Attending
King Felipe’s Reign (2014-Present)
| Year | King Felipe |
Queen Letizia |
Princess Leonor | Speech (Spanish) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | |||||
| 2029 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2028 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2027 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2026 | x | x | X | – | – |
| 2025 | Text | ||||
| 2024 | Text | Leonor attended for the 1st time, as she had reached the age of majority (18). | |||
| 2023 | Text | ||||
| 2022 | Text | ||||
| 2021 | Text | ||||
| 2020 | Text | ||||
| 2010s | |||||
| Year | King Felipe |
Queen Letizia |
Others Royals |
Speech (Spanish) |
Notes |
| 2019 | x | x | Text | ||
| 2018 | King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia |
Text | Joined by former King & Queen to kick off King Juan Carlos’s 80th birthday celebrations | ||
| 2017 | Text | ||||
| 2016 | Text | ||||
| 2015 | – | First of Reign | |||
King Juan Carlos’s reign
| Year | King Juan Carlos | Queen Sofia | Prince Felipe | Princess Letizia | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | |||||
| 2014 | X | X | X | X | |
| 2013 | |||||
| 2012 | |||||
| 2011 | |||||
| 2010 | |||||
Annual Events By Country
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