Easter Saturday

Easter is always a guaranteed four-day weekend in Papua New Guinea because Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday are all public holidays. Papua New Guinea Labour Law dictates that employees be off on public holidays, be paid 50 percent extra for “holiday pay,” or be given a replacement off-day if they work for normal wages. As a predominantly Christian nation and a former British colony, Papua New Guinea shares many Easter customs with other countries of the world and with the UK. However, British Easter traditions have sometimes been blended in with local practices in peculiar ways. The most notable example would be the PNG “Easter-tobacco tree.” Said to be set up in churches, the tobacco tree is a small tree or a few bound branches to which cigarettes or pure tobacco packets are attached. At the end of the church service, the tobacco is given out to the congregants. While Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny, and commercialisation of the holiday are not unheard of in PNG, they are not dominant either. Chocolate candies are particularly rare, but this is largely a reflection on the hot, sticky climate rather than a rejection of sweets. The religious aspect of Easter predominates, though local customs among the nation’s 840 ethno-linguistic groups may add unique “twists” to the celebrations. In general, however, you can expect long services with lots of congregational singing, Easter choirs, and special performances. There will also, of course, be readings from the Resurrection narratives and sermons on the significance of Jesus’ death and Resurrection. Easter youth camps are also relatively common this time of year. Some will attend church on Good Friday, the day on which Christ gave up His life as “a ransom for many;” on Holy Saturday, the day during which Jesus’ body lay in the tomb; and on Easter Morning, when He arose victorious over death and sin. Others may simply relax at home, eat a festive dinner, or go on a short vacation to take in the spring weather. Should you visit Papua New Guinea around Easter time, here are a few ideas on what to do while there: PNG keeps Easter in a more religious manner than most other countries, while mixing in some interesting cultural traditions. The traveller will find much that is unique in PNG Eaters and find many year-round tourist attractions to enjoy as well.