Papua New Guinea Independence
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Rule Begins. Germany and Britain establish colonies in the Northern and Southern parts of Papua New Guinea respectively
History
Colonial Rule Begins. Germany and Britain establish colonies in the Northern and Southern parts of Papua New Guinea respectively
How It's Celebrated
Papua New Guinea Independence is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.
Other Years
Countries
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Christmas in New Caledonia is celebrated with a public holiday every 25 December, as it is in a majority of countries around the world. This Christian festivity commemorates the birth of Jesus, and is part of a 22-28 day season in the Christian calendar known as Advent. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. Christmas Day and the Christmas season are a busy time of year in New Caledonia. This is one of the main tourist seasons on the island with many from Australia, New Zealand, and France coming here while the kids are out of school. About half in New Caledonia are Catholic and often go to mass all night on the day before Christmas. They seek to welcome Christmas morning while joyfully remembering the day that Christ was born. Many Protestants and Evangelicals in New Caledonia go to church on Christmas Day or the Sunday nearest to Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Saviour. The capital city of Noumea is lit up like a Christmas tree for the holidays each year. The city centre is the brightest spot, including Coconut Palm Square, the capital complex, and the Noumea Museum. Both palm trees and buildings are decked out with multi-coloured lights for the occasion.
Easter Monday
Easter is regarded as the most important holy day by Christians, and in Réunion it is celebrated with a holiday on Easter Monday. The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar, such that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Réunion, as an overseas department of France, celebrates mostly the same holidays as does mainland France, including Easter Monday. Also, the majority of the population is Christian and would want to observe Easter anyway. Réunion is a major destination for tourists, including during Easter Week, and the locals are quick to be festive this time of year too. Easter egg painting and egg hunts, midnight masses, large family feasts, and plenty of boisterous parties mark the season. Many take the opportunity around Eastertime to hike up to the rim of the island’s active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. Others go mountain biking, visit the beach, go whale or dolphin watching, or see the abundant and diverse sea life at the Réunion Aquarium.
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.
Easter Sunday
Easter is traditionally regarded as the most important of Christian holy days, and Easter in the Faroe Islands is celebrated with holidays on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. The date of Easter changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar. This means that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Faroe Islands, for the most part, shares its holiday calendar with Denmark, of which it is a part. Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday are all official public holidays, and people enjoy the four straight days off. But traditionally, Palm Sunday begins the celebrations for Holy Week, and some businesses may shut down from Thursday through Monday. Easter is intensely religious in Faroe Islands. People may even attend church on Easter Monday, which is an uncommon practice elsewhere in the world. Indeed, the Easter Week sees the faithful show up for almost a full week of services. The rest of the time is usually special time spent at home with family.