Public holidays in Liberia
The following are public holidays in Liberia.[1]
Public holidays
| Date | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | |
| January 7 | Pioneer's Day (controversial) | Commemorates the first Americo-Liberians to arrive in 1820 with the help of the American Colonization Society. Pioneers Day is controversial because of the historically tense relationship between the so-called "Congoes" (Americo-Liberians, who are 2.5 – 5 percent of Liberia’s total population of 3.5 million) and "country people" (indigenous Liberians)The way they celebrate this is music, dancing, and singing spiritual songs.[2][3] |
| February 11 | Armed Forces Day | |
| Second Wednesday of March | Decoration Day | Day to decorate the graves of ancestors. |
| March 15 | J.J. Roberts' Birthday | Day to celebrate the Birthday of the First president of Liberia |
| Second Friday of April | Fast and Prayer Day | |
| April 12 | National Redemption Day | Anniversary of the coup d’état that was spearheaded by Samuel Doe in 1980. |
| May 14 | National Unification Day | |
| July 26 | Independence Day | |
| August 24 | Flag Day | The holiday was first observed in an 1847 convention, when the founding fathers approved the flag's design along with establishing the new republic. [4] |
| First Thursday of November | Thanksgiving | |
| November 29 | William Tubman's Birthday | the Birthday of the longest serving President in Liberia |
| December 25 | Christmas |