Mawlud Nabi ("Gamo")
-
Wednesday september 27, 2023
Muslim, Sufi : Birthday of the Prophet, Mohammed. For nine days there are Parties with fairs, feasting, and parades. Stories are told about how the mountains danced when Mohammed was born, and sang, There is no god but Allah. The trees answered, And Mohammed is his Prophet.
Then 7,000 angels brought a golden vase filled with heavenly dew, and his mother bathed the new baby in it. Many stories like these are told to Arab children on the Prophet's Birthday, the happiest day in the Moslem year.
Christmas Day
-
Monday december 25, 2023
Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Years Day on Christmas Day.
Public holiday
-
Tuesday december 26, 2023
Secular holiday :
New Year's Day
-
Monday january 1, 2024
Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Winter holiday (end)
-
Thursday january 4, 2024
School holidays : Www.edugambia.gm
https://mis.edu.gm
Schooling in Gambia is mandatory till age 14
schools close on Saturday
school uniforms required
Five regions follow specific calendars
We carry confirmed dates till July 2024 in Banjul (different dates apply in the 5 other regions)Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
Make a Paypal donation of euros 50 to
[email protected] to purchase the full calendar for 5 countries, including the Gambian schools
Contact
[email protected] to purchase a file containing confirmed calendars of 550 countries and regions.
Mid-term holiday (beginning)
-
Wednesday february 14, 2024
School holidays :
Valentine's Day
-
Wednesday february 14, 2024
cards/flowers : Introduced by Pope Gelasus in 498, perhaps in response to a local Roman tradition of lovers writing their names on an urn in February
Independence Day
-
Sunday february 18, 2024
Secular holiday : Independence from the UK in 1965. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Mid-term holiday (end)
-
Tuesday february 20, 2024
School holidays :
Trade Fair
-
Saturday march 2, 2024
Tradeshows : Lasts 10 days - in Banjuls 2024 edition NOT confirmed
Easter holiday (beginning)
-
Wednesday march 27, 2024
School holidays :
Good Friday
-
Friday march 29, 2024
Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.