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The '''[[Public holiday|holiday]]s in [[The Bahamas]]''' include the following:<ref>[http://www.journeymart.com/tools/world-holidays/bahamas.aspx List]</ref>
The '''[[Public holiday|holiday]]s in [[The Bahamas]]''' include the following:<ref name="bahamas">{{cite web |title=Our Holidays |url=https://www.bahamas.com/holidays |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>

In the Bahamas, holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are typically celebrated on the following Monday. Events that fall on a Tuesday typically are celebrated on the previous Monday. Holidays that fall on Wednesdays or Thursdays (with the exception of Independence Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day) are celebrated the following Friday.<ref name="bahamas"/>


== Public holidays ==
== Public holidays ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
* January 1: [[New Year's Day|New Year Day]]
|-
* January 10: [[Majority Rule Day]]<ref>[http://www.eleutheranews.com/permalink/3744.html]</ref>
! style="width:15%;"| Date
* (varies) [[Good Friday]]
! style="width:20%;"| English name
* (varies) [[Easter Monday]]
!| Remarks
* (varies) [[Whit Monday]]
|- valign=top
* June 7: [[Labour_Day#Bahamas|Labour Day]]
| January 1 || [[New Year's Day]] || First day of the [[Gregorian calendar]], celebrated with [[Junkanoo]] parades in most islands.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wheatley |first1=Nick |title=Guide to Junkanoo: How the Bahamas Celebrates Christmas & New Years |url=https://wanderingwheatleys.com/junkanoo-nassau-bahamas-boxing-day-new-years-parade/ |website=Wandering Wheatleys |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> [[New Year's Eve]] sees many beach parties throughout the Bahamas.<ref name="christmas"/>
* July 10: [[Independence Day]]
|- valign=top
* August 5: [[Emancipation Day]]
| January 10 || [[Majority Rule]] Day || Commemorates the day the Bahamian government gained majority rule for the first time, on this day in 1967. It is usually listed with the emancipation of slavery in 1836 and independence from [[Great Britain]] in 1973 as the most important events in the history of the Bahamas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sebastian Campbell |first1=Rev. Canon S. |title=Majority Rule, Let's Celebrate |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/jan/15/majority-rule-lets-celebrate/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=The Tribune |date=January 16, 2014}}</ref><br /><br />Became an official public holiday in 2014. Celebrated with dancing in streets and feasts of traditional [[Bahamian cuisine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Commemorate Majority Rule Day in The Bahamas With Air Unlimited! |url=http://flyairunlimited.com/2020/01/10/commemorate-majority-rule-day-in-bahamas-with-air-unlimited/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=Air Unlimited |date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
* October 12: [[National Heroes' Day]]
|- valign=top
* December 25: [[Christmas|Christmas Day]]
| Friday before Easter Sunday || [[Good Friday]] || Marks the end of the [[Lenten]] season and the beginning of a 4-day holiday weekend. Most Bahamians attend church services and serve fish as the main meal for the day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good Friday Holiday |url=https://www.bahamas.com/event/good-friday-holiday |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
* December 26: [[Boxing Day]]
|- valign=top
| Monday after Easter Sunday || [[Easter Monday]] || The last day of the long Easter holiday weekend. Marks the beginning of the beach [[picnic]]king season. Cookouts and [[regatta]]s are also common.<ref>{{cite web |title=Easter Monday Holiday |url=https://www.bahamas.com/event/easter-monday-holiday |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|-valign=top
| Seventh Monday after Easter || [[Whit Monday]] || Marks the end of the Easter cycle, 50 days after Easter Sunday. It is the day after the [[Feast of Pentecost]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Whit Monday Holiday |url=https://www.bahamas.com/event/whit-monday-holiday |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|-valign=top
| First Friday in June || [[Randol Fawkes]] — [[Labour Day]] || Established by Fawkes in 1961. The day's festivities start with a large parade in downtown [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], commencing around 10:00&nbsp;a.m. The parade is led by bands and Junkanooers, who provide music for the spectators and marchers. The majority of marchers come from [[labour unions]] and [[List of political parties in the Bahamas|political parties]]. The parade ends at the Southern Recreation Grounds, where leaders of the unions and political parties give speeches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Randal Fawkes Labour Day Holiday |url=https://www.bahamas.com/event/randal-fawkes-labour-day-holiday |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade Photos |url=http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Randol_Fawkes_Labour_Day_Parade_Photos35399.shtml |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=The Bahamas Weekly |date=June 9, 2014}}</ref>
|-valign=top
| July 10 || [[Independence Day]] || Marks the day Bahamas became a fully independent nation, officially splitting from Great Britain in 1973.<ref>{{cite news |title=1973: Bahamas' sun sets on British Empire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/9/newsid_2498000/2498835.stm |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=July 9, 1973}}</ref> A week-long celebration is held leading up to the day of, when a mix of carnival and Junkanoo parades, [[fireworks]], and speeches of freedom and independence are commonplace throughout the islands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bahamian Independence Day |url=http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/bahama-indep.htm |website=Chiff |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|-valign=top
| First Monday in August || [[Emancipation Day]]/August Monday || Celebrates the emancipation of slaves in 1834. Junkanoo, [[Beaching (nautical)|beaching]], [[sailing]], and regattas take place throughout the country. Old slave villages such as Gambier and Fox Hill hold their own celebrations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emancipation Day/August Monday Holiday |url=https://www.bahamas.com/event/emancipation-dayaugust-monday-holiday |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blacks Celebrate Freedom Whites Celebrate Enlightenment – Emancipation Day 1937 |url=https://bahamianology.com/blacks-celebrate-freedom-whites-celebrate-enlightenment-emancipation-day-1937/ |website=Bahamianology |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|-valign=top
|Second Monday in October || [[National Heroes' Day]] (formerly [[Discovery Day]] or [[Columbus Day]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Longley |first1=Ginelle |title=38 national heroes to be awarded |url=https://ewnews.com/38-national-heroes-to-be-awarded |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=Eyewitness News |date=October 6, 2018}}</ref>) || Became National Heroes' Day in 2013 and is dedicated to honoring [[Order of National Hero (Bahamas)|national heroes of the Bahamas]]. A ceremony is held with a speech from the [[Prime Minister of the Bahamas|Prime Minister]], and national heroes are celebrated with a week full of activities. Many people take this day to have family gatherings and picnics.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Heroes Day Holiday |url=https://www.bahamas.com/event/national-heroes-day-holiday |website=[[The Bahamas]] |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|-valign=top
|December 25 || [[Christmas Day]] || Christmas season in the Bahamas sees many carnivals and festivals throughout the country. Customs have been adopted from other countries, as well, such as gift-giving, feasting, and sending [[Christmas card]]s. The holiday season starts with a [[Christmas tree]] lighting ceremony in Nassau's Pompey Square.<ref name="christmas">{{cite web |last1=McLeod |first1=Sheri-kae |title=A Guide to Celebrating Christmas in the Bahamas |url=https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/the-bahamas/articles/a-guide-to-celebrating-christmas-in-bahamas/ |website=Culture Trip |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|-valign=top
|December 26 || [[Boxing Day]] || The name comes from the pre-emancipation practice of plantation owners sending boxes to slaves. Usually the wooden boxes were high-quality shipped from [[England]]. The day is marked with Junkanoo festivals throughout the nation, including the Christmas Junkanoo Festival in Nassau.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bahamas Junkanoo Festival: Your Guide To Attending Boxing Day & New Year’s Day Parades (2019-2020) |url=https://www.trubahamianfoodtours.com/bahamas-special-events-and-festivals/junkanoo/ |website=Tru Bahamian Food Tours |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
|}

==Variable dates==
{{div col}}
*2021
**Easter – April 4<ref name="easter2">{{cite web |last1=Methodology |first1=US Census Bureau-Center for Statistical Research and |title=Dates of Easter from 1600 to 2099 - X-13ARIMA-SEATS Seasonal Adjustment Program - US Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/srd/www/genhol/easter500.html#easter2000 |website=www.census.gov |access-date=September 13, 2020 |language=EN-US}}</ref>
**Whit Monday – May 24 <ref name="whitmon">{{cite web |title=Whit Monday in The Bahamas |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/bahamas/whit-monday |website=www.timeanddate.com |access-date=September 13, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
**Labour Day – June 4
**August Monday – August 2
**National Heroes' Day – October 11
*2022
**Easter – April 17<ref name="easter2" />
**Labour Day – June 3
**Whit Monday – June 6 <ref name="whitmon" />
**August Monday – August 1
**National Heroes' Day – October 10
*2023
**Easter – April 9<ref name="easter2" />
**Whit Monday – May 29 <ref name="whitmon" />
**Labour Day – June 2
**August Monday – August 7
**National Heroes' Day – October 9
*2024
**Easter – March 31<ref name="easter2" />
**Whit Monday – May 20 <ref name="whitmon" />
**Labour Day – June 7
**August Monday – August 5
**National Heroes' Day – October 14
*2025
**Easter – April 20<ref name="easter2" />
**Labour Day – June 6
**Whit Monday – June 9<ref name="whitmon" />
**August Monday – August 4
**National Heroes' Day – October 13
*2026
**Easter – April 5<ref name="easter2" />
**Labour Day – June 5
**Whit Monday –
**August Monday – August 3
**National Heroes' Day – October 12
*2027
**Easter – March 28 <ref name="easter2" />
**Labour Day – June 4
**Whit Monday –
**August Monday – August 2
**National Heroes' Day – October 11
*2028
**Easter – April 16<ref name="easter2" />
**Labour Day – June 2
**Whit Monday –
**August Monday – August 7
**National Heroes' Day – October 9
*2029
**Easter – April 1<ref name="easter2" />
**Labour Day – June 1
**Whit Monday –
**August Monday – August 6
**National Heroes' Day – October 8
{{end div col}}


== References ==
== References ==
Line 20: Line 98:
{{North America in topic|Public holidays in}}
{{North America in topic|Public holidays in}}


[[Category:Bahamian culture]]
[[Category:Public holidays in the Bahamas| ]]
[[Category:Culture of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Public holidays in North America|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Lists of public holidays by country|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Lists of public holidays by country|Bahamas]]


{{Bahamas-stub}}

Latest revision as of 07:00, 11 March 2024

The holidays in The Bahamas include the following:[1]

In the Bahamas, holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are typically celebrated on the following Monday. Events that fall on a Tuesday typically are celebrated on the previous Monday. Holidays that fall on Wednesdays or Thursdays (with the exception of Independence Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day) are celebrated the following Friday.[1]

Public holidays

[edit]
Date English name Remarks
January 1 New Year's Day First day of the Gregorian calendar, celebrated with Junkanoo parades in most islands.[2] New Year's Eve sees many beach parties throughout the Bahamas.[3]
January 10 Majority Rule Day Commemorates the day the Bahamian government gained majority rule for the first time, on this day in 1967. It is usually listed with the emancipation of slavery in 1836 and independence from Great Britain in 1973 as the most important events in the history of the Bahamas.[4]

Became an official public holiday in 2014. Celebrated with dancing in streets and feasts of traditional Bahamian cuisine.[5]
Friday before Easter Sunday Good Friday Marks the end of the Lenten season and the beginning of a 4-day holiday weekend. Most Bahamians attend church services and serve fish as the main meal for the day.[6]
Monday after Easter Sunday Easter Monday The last day of the long Easter holiday weekend. Marks the beginning of the beach picnicking season. Cookouts and regattas are also common.[7]
Seventh Monday after Easter Whit Monday Marks the end of the Easter cycle, 50 days after Easter Sunday. It is the day after the Feast of Pentecost.[8]
First Friday in June Randol Fawkes — Labour Day Established by Fawkes in 1961. The day's festivities start with a large parade in downtown Nassau, commencing around 10:00 a.m. The parade is led by bands and Junkanooers, who provide music for the spectators and marchers. The majority of marchers come from labour unions and political parties. The parade ends at the Southern Recreation Grounds, where leaders of the unions and political parties give speeches.[9][10]
July 10 Independence Day Marks the day Bahamas became a fully independent nation, officially splitting from Great Britain in 1973.[11] A week-long celebration is held leading up to the day of, when a mix of carnival and Junkanoo parades, fireworks, and speeches of freedom and independence are commonplace throughout the islands.[12]
First Monday in August Emancipation Day/August Monday Celebrates the emancipation of slaves in 1834. Junkanoo, beaching, sailing, and regattas take place throughout the country. Old slave villages such as Gambier and Fox Hill hold their own celebrations.[13][14]
Second Monday in October National Heroes' Day (formerly Discovery Day or Columbus Day[15]) Became National Heroes' Day in 2013 and is dedicated to honoring national heroes of the Bahamas. A ceremony is held with a speech from the Prime Minister, and national heroes are celebrated with a week full of activities. Many people take this day to have family gatherings and picnics.[16]
December 25 Christmas Day Christmas season in the Bahamas sees many carnivals and festivals throughout the country. Customs have been adopted from other countries, as well, such as gift-giving, feasting, and sending Christmas cards. The holiday season starts with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Nassau's Pompey Square.[3]
December 26 Boxing Day The name comes from the pre-emancipation practice of plantation owners sending boxes to slaves. Usually the wooden boxes were high-quality shipped from England. The day is marked with Junkanoo festivals throughout the nation, including the Christmas Junkanoo Festival in Nassau.[17]

Variable dates

[edit]
  • 2021
    • Easter – April 4[18]
    • Whit Monday – May 24 [19]
    • Labour Day – June 4
    • August Monday – August 2
    • National Heroes' Day – October 11
  • 2022
    • Easter – April 17[18]
    • Labour Day – June 3
    • Whit Monday – June 6 [19]
    • August Monday – August 1
    • National Heroes' Day – October 10
  • 2023
    • Easter – April 9[18]
    • Whit Monday – May 29 [19]
    • Labour Day – June 2
    • August Monday – August 7
    • National Heroes' Day – October 9
  • 2024
    • Easter – March 31[18]
    • Whit Monday – May 20 [19]
    • Labour Day – June 7
    • August Monday – August 5
    • National Heroes' Day – October 14
  • 2025
    • Easter – April 20[18]
    • Labour Day – June 6
    • Whit Monday – June 9[19]
    • August Monday – August 4
    • National Heroes' Day – October 13
  • 2026
    • Easter – April 5[18]
    • Labour Day – June 5
    • Whit Monday –
    • August Monday – August 3
    • National Heroes' Day – October 12
  • 2027
    • Easter – March 28 [18]
    • Labour Day – June 4
    • Whit Monday –
    • August Monday – August 2
    • National Heroes' Day – October 11
  • 2028
    • Easter – April 16[18]
    • Labour Day – June 2
    • Whit Monday –
    • August Monday – August 7
    • National Heroes' Day – October 9
  • 2029
    • Easter – April 1[18]
    • Labour Day – June 1
    • Whit Monday –
    • August Monday – August 6
    • National Heroes' Day – October 8

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Our Holidays". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  2. ^ Wheatley, Nick. "Guide to Junkanoo: How the Bahamas Celebrates Christmas & New Years". Wandering Wheatleys. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b McLeod, Sheri-kae. "A Guide to Celebrating Christmas in the Bahamas". Culture Trip. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  4. ^ Sebastian Campbell, Rev. Canon S. (January 16, 2014). "Majority Rule, Let's Celebrate". The Tribune. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Commemorate Majority Rule Day in The Bahamas With Air Unlimited!". Air Unlimited. January 10, 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Good Friday Holiday". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Easter Monday Holiday". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Whit Monday Holiday". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Randal Fawkes Labour Day Holiday". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade Photos". The Bahamas Weekly. June 9, 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  11. ^ "1973: Bahamas' sun sets on British Empire". British Broadcasting Corporation. July 9, 1973. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Bahamian Independence Day". Chiff. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Emancipation Day/August Monday Holiday". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Blacks Celebrate Freedom Whites Celebrate Enlightenment – Emancipation Day 1937". Bahamianology. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  15. ^ Longley, Ginelle (October 6, 2018). "38 national heroes to be awarded". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. ^ "National Heroes Day Holiday". The Bahamas. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Bahamas Junkanoo Festival: Your Guide To Attending Boxing Day & New Year's Day Parades (2019-2020)". Tru Bahamian Food Tours. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i Methodology, US Census Bureau-Center for Statistical Research and. "Dates of Easter from 1600 to 2099 - X-13ARIMA-SEATS Seasonal Adjustment Program - US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Whit Monday in The Bahamas". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.


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