Labor Minister Max Puig has announced that this coming 16 August, Restoration Day will be a public holiday. Restoration Day commemorates the return of independence from Spain in 1865.
He said that this follows a decision by Supreme Court of Justice issued in February 2008 that established that the Day of the Restoration, 16 August, would always be celebrated on the 16th and be a holiday. Since children and universities are off for the summer holidays, this is likely to become a busy long weekend, with many taking time off from Friday, 12 through Tuesday, 16 August.
For more on holidays, see www.dr1.com/travel/prepare/holidays.shtml