Dominica is a pretty island in the Caribbean with a lively culture. Dominicans celebrate holidays and festivals every year. People will have several public holidays in Dominica in 2025. These holidays celebrate the island’s history, traditions, and values.
Dominican people gather for Carnival and religious events like Good Friday and Easter, which helps to build a sense of community. Other notable holidays include Labour Day, Emancipation Day, and Independence Day.
This blog will discuss Dominica’s 2025 public holidays. We will also explore their significance and celebrations, showing little of the island’s cultural past.
Public Holidays In Dominica In 2025
In Dominica, people will have 12 public holidays in 2025. There is no holiday which falls on weekends. It means all the holidays fall on weekdays. Below is a table for everyone to know about the public holidays in Dominica in 2025.
Holiday | Date | Weekday |
New Year’s Day | Jan 01, 2025 | Wednesday |
Carnival Monday | Mar 03, 2025 | Monday |
Carnival Tuesday | Mar 04, 2025 | Tuesday |
Good Friday | Apr 18, 2025 | Friday |
Easter Monday | Apr 21, 2025 | Monday |
Labour Day | May 05, 2025 | Monday |
Whit Monday | Jun 09, 2025 | Monday |
Emancipation Day | Aug 04, 2025 | Monday |
Independence Day | Nov 03, 2025 | Monday |
Community Service Day | Nov 04, 2025 | Tuesday |
Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2025 | Thursday |
Boxing Day | Dec 26, 2025 | Friday |
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is a time for fresh beginnings and new opportunities in Dominica. It is a day for families and friends to come together and celebrate the start of a new year. According to the modern Gregorian calendar, January 1 is the first day of the year.
Lots of people go to church to say thank you for the year that passed and make plans for the new year. People traditionally enjoy special meals with local dishes. These may include callaloo soup, codfish, and baked provisions. Some also take part in cultural activities like masquerade dances or music performances.
Know More:- Holidays In Djibouti In 2025 |
Carnival Monday and Tuesday
Carnival Monday and Tuesday are among the biggest celebrations in Dominica. They mark the ten days before the Christian season of Lenten fasting. On this day, vibrant parades and festivities take place across the island.
People wear bright and fun outfits and masks that show different ideas or characters. Music, dancing, and street parties are the highlights, with calypso and soca music blasting from speakers. It’s a time for letting loose, indulging in delicious food and drinks, and embracing the island’s rich cultural heritage.
Good Friday
Good Friday is a significant religious holiday in Dominica. It celebrates the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and his death at Calvary. It happens on the Friday before Easter Sunday, April 18, 2025.
Many Christians attend special church services, reflecting on Jesus’s sacrifices. Some households observe fasting or abstain from certain foods on this solemn day. It is also a time for introspection and contemplation of one’s faith and values.
Easter Monday
The day is a continuation of the Easter celebrations in Dominica. It is the day after Easter Sunday, and it is on April 21, 2025. After the solemnity of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, this day is marked by joyous gatherings and feasting.
Families and friends come together for picnics, beach outings, or backyard parties. Traditional Easter dishes like fish broth, codfish cakes, and hot cross buns are enjoyed. Some communities also hold sports events or cultural performances to commemorate the occasion.
Labour Day
Labour Day in Dominica honors workers and their help in building the nation. People celebrate Workers’ Day on May 5, 2025. On this day, worker groups often have big meetings, marches, or talks to support fair treatment and good working conditions for workers.
Some communities plan sports events or shows to celebrate the day. It reminds us that hard work is essential and workers’ rights should be protected. The holiday began with the idea of dividing the day into three parts: eight hours for work, eight hours for fun activities, and eight hours for rest.
Whit Monday
Whit Monday, also called Pentecost Monday, is a religious holiday in Dominica. It will happen on June 9, 2025, the day after Pentecost, which is 50 days after Easter Sunday.
It honors the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Many Christians attend church services and pray for spiritual renewal and guidance. Families and friends may gather for meals or outdoor activities, enjoying the pleasant weather during this time of the year.
Know More:- Holidays In Denmark In 2025 |
Emancipation Day
Emancipation Day is an important holiday in Dominica. It commemorates the day a law ended slavery in Anguilla on August 1, 1834. It happens on the first Monday in August and falls on August 4, 2025.
It is a day to honor enslaved Africans’ hard times and sacrifices and celebrate their freedom and strength. They organize cultural shows, performances, and activities. These events teach about Dominica’s African heritage and the struggle for human rights.
Independence Day
Independence Day is an important national holiday in Dominica on November 3, 2025. It marks the day the country became independent from Britain in 1978. It is a day of great pride and love for the country.
There are official events, marches, and cultural celebrations all over the island. People wear the national colors, join community events, and think about the nation’s path to self-rule and freedom.
Community Service Day
Community Service Day is a public holiday in Dominica. It falls on November 4, 2025, the day after Independent Day. The day started with people cleaning up the messes left on the streets after the celebrations of Independent Day.
Now, it is a nationwide clean-up activity. The government gives money to residents to buy garbage bags, gloves, and other supplies to help clean up.
Christmas Day (December 25th)
Christmas Day is an important religious and cultural celebration in Dominica. It celebrates the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Families go to church services and come together for special meals. They often eat traditional foods like ham, turkey, and brown drinks.
Giving gifts, decorating homes with lights and Christmas trees, and attending community events are all part of the celebrations. It is a time of happiness, sharing, being together, and showing love and kindness. People also share cards and gifts with their friends and families.
Boxing Day (December 26th)
The Day After Christmas is celebrated in Dominica on the day after Christmas. It is also called St. Stephen’s Day. It falls on December 26, 2025.
It continues the holiday fun. People often visit family and friends, go to social gatherings, or do outdoor activities. Some families use this day to give gifts or donations to needy people, following the kindness of giving during Christmas.