Guadeloupe celebrates many special holidays throughout the year. In 2025, there will be 12 public holidays. These holidays allow people to gather with family, honor their cultures and traditions, and commemorate important events.
From religious festivals like Christmas and Easter to national pride days like Bastille Day, the holidays showcase Guadeloupe’s diverse heritage. This blog will provide an overview of public holidays in Guadeloupe in 2025.
You’ll learn about the history behind the holidays, how they are typically celebrated, and their significance to the island’s people. Get ready to discover the meaningful traditions that make Guadeloupe’s holidays so vibrant and unifying.
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Public Holidays In Guadeloupe In 2025
In 2025, there will be a total of 12 public holidays in Guadeloupe. One of the public holidays falls on weekends. Below is a list of the public holidays in Guadeloupe in 2025.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
| New Year’s Day | Jan 01, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Easter Monday | Apr 21, 2025 | Monday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2025 | Thursday |
| Victory Day | May 08, 2025 | Thursday |
| Abolition Day | May 27, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Ascension Day | May 29, 2025 | Thursday |
| Whit Monday | Jun 09, 2025 | Monday |
| Bastille Day | Jul 14, 2025 | Monday |
| Assumption of Mary | Aug 15, 2025 | Friday |
| All Saints’ Day | Nov 01, 2025 | Saturday |
| Armistice Day | Nov 11, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2025 | Thursday |
This is the list of the public holidays. Now, below are the significance and traditions of these holidays.
New Year’s Day (January 1st)
New Year’s Day is a time for celebration and new beginnings in Guadeloupe. It marks the start of a fresh calendar year, symbolizing a chance to leave the past behind and embrace new opportunities.
Families often gather for festive meals, exchanging well-wishes and hopes for the upcoming year. Many attend church services, offering prayers for guidance and blessings in the new year. Fireworks and vibrant parties are common, creating an atmosphere of joy and optimism as the island welcomes a fresh start.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is a religious and cultural holiday in Guadeloupe, celebrated the day after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a pivotal event in Christianity.
Families gather for special church services and shared meals, often featuring traditional dishes like boudin (blood sausage) and accras (salt cod fritters). Children delight in hunting for Easter eggs and receiving small gifts, while adults exchange visits with loved ones. The day is a time for reflection, renewal, and cherishing family bonds.
Labour Day (May 1st)
Labour Day, or Fête du Travail, is a significant holiday in Guadeloupe. It celebrates the achievements and rights of workers and honors their contributions to the island’s economy and development.
Parades, rallies, and speeches are common, as unions and worker organizations advocate for fair wages, safe working conditions, and worker protections. Many government offices and businesses are closed, allowing employees to enjoy a well-deserved day of rest with their loved ones.
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Victory Day (May 8th)
Victory Day, or Fête de la Victoire, commemorates the end of World War II in Europe. On this day, Guadeloupe pays tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians during the conflict.
Ceremonies are held to honor fallen heroes and veterans, with wreath-laying at war memorials. Public events, like parades and cultural performances, foster a sense of unity and national pride. It’s a time for reflection on the value of peace and the importance of remembering the hard-won victories of the past.
Abolition Day (May 27th)
Abolition Day, or Fête de l’Abolition de l’Esclavage, holds immense cultural significance for Guadeloupe. It marks the abolition of slavery in the French colonies in 1848, a pivotal moment in the island’s history.
Commemorative events, including parades, music performances, and traditional dances, celebrate the hard-fought freedom and honor the resilience of ancestors who endured the horrors of slavery. It’s a day of reflection on the ongoing struggle for equality and human rights and a celebration of Guadeloupe’s rich cultural heritage.
Ascension Day
Ascension Day is a religious holiday in Guadeloupe on the 40th day after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the biblical event of Jesus Christ’s ascension to heaven after his resurrection.
Churches hold special services and processions, with many believers attending to pray and reflect on the significance of this event in Christian teachings. Families often gather for festive meals and spend quality time together, cherishing their faith and cultural traditions.
Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday)
Whit Monday, or Lundi de Pentecôte, is a Christian holiday observed the day after Pentecost Sunday. In Guadeloupe, it holds both religious and cultural significance. Churches conduct special services to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, as defined in the Bible.
Many families also use this day for outdoor gatherings, picnics, and enjoying the island’s natural beauty. It’s a time for community bonding, relaxation, and appreciating the island’s vibrant traditions.
Bastille Day (July 14th)
Bastille Day, or Fête Nationale, is a national holiday in Guadeloupe. It celebrates the storming of the Bastille fort in Paris during the French Revolution. It symbolizes the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity deeply cherished in Guadeloupe.
Parades, cultural performances, and patriotic displays mark the occasion, fostering a sense of unity and pride in the island’s French heritage. Families gather for festive meals and celebrations, strengthening their bonds and appreciation for their rich cultural identity.
Assumption of Mary (August 15th)
The Assumption of Mary is a significant religious public holiday in Guadeloupe, celebrated by the island’s Catholic community. It marks the belief in the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascension into heaven.
Churches hold special masses and processions, with many believers attending to honor the mother of Jesus Christ. Families often gather for shared meals and festivities, incorporating local traditions and cultural elements into the celebrations. It’s a day of reverence, community, and appreciation for Guadeloupe’s deep-rooted Catholic faith.
All Saints’ Day (November 1st)
All Saints’ Day, or Toussaint, is a solemn religious holiday in Guadeloupe. It honors all Christian saints and martyrs. Families go to graveyards to clean and decorate the tombs of their departed loved ones, leaving flowers, candles, and other offerings.
Church services are held to pray for the souls of the deceased, and many attend to pay their respects. It’s a day of remembrance, reflection, and honoring the island’s rich cultural traditions surrounding death and the afterlife.
Armistice Day (November 11th)
Armistice Day, or Jour de l’Armistice, is a significant holiday in Guadeloupe, commemorating the end of World War I. Ceremonies are held to honor the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians during the conflict, with wreath-laying at war memorials and parades.
It’s a time for reflection on the devastating effects of war and the importance of fostering peace and international cooperation. Many use this day to express gratitude for the hard-won freedoms and pay tribute to the island’s fallen heroes.
Christmas Day (December 25th)
Christmas Day is a joyous and deeply cherished holiday in Guadeloupe. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Families attend special church services and gather for festive meals, often featuring traditional dishes like boudin creole (blood sausage) and tourment d’amour (coconut bread).
Gift-giving, decorating homes with vibrant lights and nativity scenes, and enjoying cultural performances are all part of the celebrations. It’s a time for unity, gratitude, and cherishing the island’s rich Christian heritage and traditions.