12 June. The culture of today’s Nigeria is strongly influenced by folk traditions. Facebook. Public Holiday : Aug 10: Tuesday: Al-Hijra: Local holiday : Sep 22: Wednesday: September Equinox: Season : Oct 1: Friday: National Day: Public Holiday : Oct 19: Tuesday: Id el Maulud: Public Holiday : Dec 21: Tuesday: December Solstice: Season : Dec 22: Wednesday: Sambisa Memorial Day: Local holiday: Borno: Dec 24: Friday: Christmas Eve: Observance, Christian : Dec 25: Saturday: Christmas Day: Public Holiday : Dec 26 The main Christian festivals are Christmas and Easter. The main Muslim festivals are Eid al Fitri, Eid al Maulud and Eid al Kabir, which are recognized as national Nigerian holidays. This is due to the colonization of Nigeria but, traditions and beliefs are still shown threw the Igbo masks. Many Christians around the world observe Good Friday on the Friday before Easter Sunday. About half of the population is Muslim, with about 40 percent of Nigerians following Christianity. From the loud laughter of traffic-choked Lagos to the green-fringed villages that line rivers and streams, Nigeria is one of the most exciting places to visit in Africa. Right Hand Only. You may hear it being called ‘Small Saleh’ in Nigeria, and on this day Muslims head home to feast with their families, breaking the fast. This carnival takes place in the city of Port Harcourt, and it normally last for seven days just … Good Friday is a more somber day, where many people will go to pay their respects at a local church. If you don't have an account yet, make one here. These are the major holiday periods in Nigeria for the year 2020, there are some other days that are mildly celebrated in Nigeria like democracy day as well as Valentine’s day. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s Passion, crucifixion, and death, which is told in the Christian Bible. Olojo Festival is an annual popular festival in Ile-Ife town in Osun State. Garri would pass as the king in the land of Nigerian dishes, as it is a household food in almost … The New Yam Festival is celebrated by the Igbo. Wishing all other with good luck, success, and New Year wishes is another prominent part of Nigerian New Years Eve. Working hours in the north often vary from those in the south so that Muslims do not work on their holy day, which is Friday. In Nigeria it is commemorated with an official public holiday. January 1st (Friday) - New Year's Day. Nigerians believe that the deceased should be honored with a feast, singing and prayers. Elaborate celebrations typify Nigerian burial practices. Styles of folk music are related to the multitudes of ethnic groups in the country, each with their own techniques, instruments, and songs. Only men participate in Egungun. Christians account for about 50% of the Nigerian population, living throughout the country but predominantly in the south. The Obanisoro Obatala (chief priest of Obatala worshippers), Chief Oladotun Okanlawon Dada, who made the call in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, insisted that traditional religion be accorded recognition as accorded Christianity and Islam. If all burial customs aren’t followed, family members fear that their loved one won’t be an ancestor and they will haunt the living instead. Commemorates the Independence of Nigeria from Britain . Celebrations in Nigeria have a unique twist in the southern region of Igboland, where festivities involve masquerade dancing, known as “Mmo.” These festivities predate Christianity, and traditionally honor Nigerian ancestors. Once known only for oil and chaos, the country is changing rapidly. List of Public Holidays In Nigeria. In addition, Nigeria officially celebrates a few moveable holidays, which occur on different dates every year: Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Nigeria: Buhari Approves November 1 As National Youth Day - Minister", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Public_holidays_in_Nigeria&oldid=1001568197, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from May 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. 1 October. The festival is held at the Oshogbo Sacred Forest. It is known as ‘Mawlid’ in other Islamic holidays, and means ‘birth of the Prophet’, celebrating the birth of Mohammed in 570 AD. Boxing Day – 26 December. Christmas Day – 25 December. The main Muslim festivals are Eid al Fitri, Eid al Maulud and Eid al Kabir, which are recognized as national Nigerian holidays. Nigeria has been urged to recognise traditional religions by declaring some days as public holidays for its adherents. Muslim holiday celebrating the birthday of, Muslim holiday celebrating the willingness of. It is a traditional tribal festival from the Yoruba people, held to honor the river goddess Oshun. It is a holiday that is normally observed on the Friday before Easter and this holiday is to be observed by Christians all over the world on April 10th, 2021. This page was last edited on 20 January 2021, at 07:34. National Day. It occurs around late October, varying according to the Islamic calendar, on the last day of the Hajj (the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca). Commemorates the beginning of the calendar year. Fish is important to the Nigerian diet since it i The Igbo clan also celebrates the major Nigerian holidays like the New Year’s Day (January 1), Easter (March or April), Nigerian Independence Day (October 1), Christmas (December 24 to 26). This is a fairly new addition to the annual festival calendar of Nigeria, since it first commenced in 2006, although is held annually and is dubbed “Nigeria’s largest street party.” It is a month-long carnival from December 1 to 31 every year, and has a program of events including dancing, music, and other cultural events; something different every day. Near the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, Nigerians prefer eating seafood stews (made with fish, shrimp, crab, and lobster), yams, rice, and vegetables. President Muhammadu Buhari established National Youth Day in 2020 to find solutions to … We all have something in common. Christmas and Easter festivals are celebrated widely, with a distinct West African flavor, and most of the Christians live in the south. Easter is one of two most important festivals for Christians around the world. following other religious beliefs such as indigenous faiths and no affiliations at all. For instance, traditional dancing is meant to achieve a certain ritualistic goal and sculptures are usually used in blessings. Upon death, the soul typically travels to heaven or hell. This is followed by a two-day national public holiday. Held in February, this is the first major Muslim festival celebrated of the year in Nigeria. Followers of the religions live side by side in Nigeria, and traditional Islamic and Christian festivals are celebrated throughout the country, although it is at these times where you will observe the division more. (In the Northern States of the country, the customs, cultures and traditions of the people who are mainly Hausa/Fulani, Nupe, Kanuri, Igalaand Tiv are governed by the Musfim religious traditions). Any Christmas celebration in Nigeria cannot be imagined without fireworks and other ways to make the celebration loud… Nigeria boasts of a plethora of customs and traditions, cultures and festivals, that would appeal to the tastes of the average tourist. This festival is held towards the rainy season, usually last week of August. This Muslim festival is known as Eid al-Adha in other countries, which translates into ‘festival of sacrifice’. The remaining 10 percent of the population have traditional indigenous beliefs, and festivals which convey the unique Nigerian traditional way of life are celebrated, such as the Osun festival, an important event for the Yoruba tribe. Usually, people do that at the stroke of midnight, in the midst of the celebrations either occurring on a private place or socially. The way in which these holidays are celebrated often incorporates traditions from earlier religions. Nigeria holidays 2021. Thousands of people attend to bear witness to the ceremonies, which include priests seeking protection for the villagers for the year to come by offering gifts and sacrifices. Christmas is held on December 25 each year, and is an important festival for Christians since it celebrates the birth of Jesus. Nigeria holidays 2022. In Nigeria you will see this festival being celebrated in the countryside as Durbar festivals. Carniriv. As you can see, Nigeria is an extremely diverse country with plenty of interesting customs and traditions. 1 November. It is the day after Maundy Thursday. The importance of family traditions is to create a bond and unique living patterns. Traditions for a Nigerian Funeral Ceremony. Trust me when I say there are funny family traditions, especially in a Nigerian family. Held in the exciting city of Port-Harcourt, The Carniriv is a thrilling cultural event that … The iponri, as represented by artistic renditions created of cloth, returns during Egungun to dance, bless and sometimes correct members of the community. Muslims Easter Sunday is an upbeat event, since it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, and people take to the streets wearing traditional colorful costumes, dancing to the pulsating beat of African drums. National Youth Day. Some time, people make a visit to those whom they had offended or had get offended in the last year. This day is honored with a national public holiday; you will see it observed slightly differently depending on which region of the country you are in. The Yoruba people of the southwest and central areas eat gari with local varieties of okro (okra) and spinach in stews or soups. But then, the Nigeria public holidays are not only limited to these religious celebrations. Finally, the inhabitants are extremely fond of art and culture, mostly for religious reasons. Here the villagers come out in traditional bright colored West African costume, and congregate in parades and horsemanship competitions throughout the day. The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of Folk and popular music, some of which are known worldwide. The secular holidays are New Year's Day (1 January), Workers' Day (1 May), and National Day (1 October). The biggest life event in Nigeria is a funeral. The major Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter are recognized as national holidays. Commemorates the Independence of Nigeria from, Christian holiday commemorating the birth of. The remaining 10 percent of the population have traditional indigenous beliefs, and festivals which convey the unique Nigerian traditional way of life are celebrated, such as the Osun festival, an important event for the Yoruba tribe. Funerals come with either celebration or mourning. They can be seen in the wooden Yoruba sculptures and Ibibio, Yoruba, and Ijo masks. They also like to eat mashed yams or mashed cassava. Since Christianity and Islam are the country’s most widely adopted religions, public holidays in Nigeria are mainly made of Christian and Islamic festivals. Eid al-Kabir (Feast of the Sacrifice) – 31 July. Nigerians see it as a sign of disrespect and disgusting to greet, eat, hand over, or … Christian holiday commemorating the day after Christmas. Nigeria observes three secular national holidays and several officially recognized Muslim and Christian holidays when government, commerce, and banks are closed. For example, Ramadan and the associated Eid al Fitr are important Islamic festivals observed in Niger. The rest of the population follows the Baha’i faith, and Christianity, although the larger festivals in Niger will reflect traditional, indigenous beliefs, such as the Cure Salee (Festival of Nomads). Olojo festival. Christmas Cloth. Families that can't pay for such expensive rites are at risk for being haunted by the deceased. Every year, Nigerians celebrate a total of 15 public holidays. It is held at the beginning of March, and thousands of fishermen come to compete to catch the largest fish on the Sokoto River using only traditional handmade nets. Commemorates the return to Democracy in Nigeria. The northern states, such as Kano, are known to have the best displays. Carniriv. The festival is … By clicking "Sign Up" or "Sign In with Facebook" I acknowledge and, 3 Ways to Get Wet and Wild in Myrtle Beach, 14 Landmarks That Should Be Considered World Wonders, These Are the Most Peaceful Countries on the Planet, Deserts in Bloom: 6 Spots for Springtime Wildflower Watching, Yoho National Park Is the Most Incredible Place You've Never Heard Of. Christian holiday celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christian Public Holidays In Nigeria (2021) Good Friday – This is a holiday celebrated by Christians in Nigeria and the world at large to remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Nigeria is ethnically, religiously, and culturally diverse, and … Garri. Muslims observe Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and the two Eids. Nigeria is a multicultural society, although it is dominated by two of the world’s major religions. This traditional harvest festival is celebrated in August. Occurring in August or September, according to the Islamic calendar for the year, the festival of Eid al Fitri is celebrated on the last day of Ramadan, the end of a month-long period of daylight fasting for Muslims. These traditions may be looked at individually, by clans, tribes or even countries. This is an annual four-day fishing festival that has been held in the northwestern state of Kebbi since 1934. 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