Public holidays in Nigeria 2023: List of national and other holidays
Nigeria, like many other countries around the world, has a number of official holidays. There are some that are celebrated all over the world, some that have to do with Nigeria’s history, and some that are only celebrated in certain states. People usually get time off from work and school for these holidays, which makes them important to the country’s calendar. What are Nigeria’s different national holidays, and what do they mean?
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Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to CanadaMost of Nigeria’s most important holidays have something to do with national issues like independence and self-government, religious issues like Islamic and Christian beliefs, and international issues like workers’ rights.
Read Also: Public Holidays in Nigeria 2021 and Significance
The different public holidays in Nigeria
1. New Year’s Day – January 1
Nigeria has many different cultures, religions, and ethnic groups. Still, New Year’s Day is a time when everyone in the country comes together to celebrate. On the night of December 31, people in some parts of the country gather in churches and mosques to celebrate and pray for the coming year.Information Guide Nigeria
Masks are also often worn from midnight on December 31 until the morning of January 1 as a way to pray for blessings and clean the slate.Public holidays in Nigeria 2023: List of national and other holidays
2. Good Friday – April 7
Good Friday, which is also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is an important Christian holiday that remembers the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. The date of Good Friday changes from year to year.
The holiday is usually celebrated on the Friday before Easter Sunday, and it often falls on the first full moon of the Paschal calendar after March 21. This holiday sometimes falls on the same day as the Jewish Passover.
3. Easter Sunday – April 9
In both Latin and Greek, Easter Sunday is called Pascha. The holiday celebrates Jesus’s resurrection and is one of the most important Christian holidays in Nigeria and around the world. Since the holiday is on a Sunday, Nigerians usually have the next Monday off. Different years have different dates for this holiday.NYSC Portal
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Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada4. Labour/Workers’ Day – May 1
Labor Day is a holiday that is celebrated all over the world on May 1. Workers Day is the name of the holiday in Nigeria. Workers’ Day is a public holiday in Nigeria that is held every year to honor the hard work of Nigerian workers. The holiday started with the eight-hour day movement, which was part of the labor union movement.
Workers’ Day was on May 2, 2022, instead of May 1, which was a Sunday.105 Good Morning My Love Messages
5. Eid al Fitr – April 22
One of the official holidays that Muslims in Nigeria celebrate is this one. The holiday comes at the end of Ramadan and at the beginning of Shawwal. The exact dates of Eid al Fitr change every year, mostly because of the moon. Even though Eid al-Fitr is a religious holiday, it is a national holiday in Nigeria.
6. Democracy Day – June 12
In Nigeria, Democracy Day is a public holiday. The holidays used to be in May 2019, but on June 6, 2018, a new date was chosen. The holiday marks the day in 1999 when the military gave power to a civilian government that was chosen by the people.20 Best Home Office Appliances in Nigeria and their prices
This was the beginning of the longest period of civilian rule since Nigeria got rid of colonial rule in 1960. On Democracy Day, the president usually gives a speech to the whole country, and big public parties are held in Eagle Square in the capital city of Abuja.20 Best Women’s Scarves and Wraps in Nigeria
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7. Eid ul Adha (Eid el Kabir) – June 29
Eid al Adha is the second most important holiday for Muslims in Nigeria. It is also called the Feast of Sacrifice. It remembers how the Prophet Ibrahim was willing to give up his only son Ismael as a sacrifice to Allah. In Nigeria, Eid al-Adha is usually a day off for everyone.
Id el Kabir happens on the tenth day of Dhu’l-Hijja, which is the twelfth month on the Muslim lunar calendar. This means that there is no set date for Eid ul Adha. Instead, the date is set by the moon. Even though the holiday is only one day long, the celebrations can last up to a week, but they usually last between two and four days.
During Id el Kabir, religious Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to reenact Ibrahim’s sacrifice. Others who can’t travel often wear their best clothes and listen to sermons and pray outside or in their local mosques.200 Romantic Love Message For Her
8. National Day/Independence Day – October 1
Nigeria has an official national holiday called Independence Day. It is usually celebrated on October 1 every year. It marks the day that the country got rid of British rule on October 1, 1960. The day’s events officially start with a speech from the president, which is broadcast on TV and radio across the country.
After that, there will be a ceremony to raise the flag, and then the army will march through the streets of Abuja in a parade. Soldiers from all of Nigeria’s states join in the celebrations and dance different Nigerian dances. Independence Day will be on October 3, 2022, because October 1 will be a Saturday.
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9. Christmas – December 25
Christmas Day is a public holiday in most countries around the world, and billions of people celebrate it. The date is important to Christians all over the world because it marks the birth of Jesus Christ.
In Nigeria, Christmas Day is a special time to spend with family, and it’s the only time most people leave their jobs in the city to go back to their homes in the countryside.
10. Boxing Day – December 26
After Christmas Day, people have a party called Boxing Day. It started out as a time for rich people to give gifts to their servants and poor people to get gifts. Today, most people spend Boxing Day at home with their families, taking it easy.JAMB Portal
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State-specific (regional) holidays
Some Nigerian states also have public holidays that only people in those states get to celebrate. Here is a look at the holidays that each state celebrates (often known as regional holidays).
- November 2: Thanksgiving Day in Bayelsa State
- November 16: Public Holiday in Anambra State
- December 22: Sambisa Memorial Day in Borno State
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