Madagascar Public Holidays 2025
Madagascar has 15 public holidays and 0 observances in 2025. Explore the full holiday calendar below.
All Holidays
| Date | Day | Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Wed | New Year's Day | public |
| 8 Mar | Sat | International Women's Day | public |
| 29 Mar | Sat | Martyrs' Day | public |
| 30 Mar | Sun | End of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) | public |
| 20 Apr | Sun | Easter Sunday | public |
| 21 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday | public |
| 1 May | Thu | Labour Day | public |
| 25 May | Sun | Africa Day | public |
| 29 May | Thu | Ascension Day | public |
| 6 Jun | Fri | Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) | public |
| 9 Jun | Mon | Whit Monday | public |
| 26 Jun | Thu | Independence Day | public |
| 15 Aug | Fri | Assumption | public |
| 1 Nov | Sat | All Saints' Day | public |
| 25 Dec | Thu | Christmas Day | public |
About Madagascar's Holidays
Madagascar marks time with a mix of national, public, and cultural holidays that matter to many people. National holidays celebrate history and independence. Public holidays include internationally known days like New Year, Labor Day, Easter and Christmas because many Malagasy are Christian.
Cultural holidays show local traditions. Famadihana, the turning of the bones, is a big family ceremony where relatives honor ancestors with music, dancing and rewrapping of remains. The Malagasy new year, called Alahamady Be, follows local lunar or agricultural calendars and varies by region. Festivals often blend religious, historical and local customs, making holidays lively and community focused.
Holiday Traditions
In Madagascar many holidays are full of song, dance, and bright clothes. People honor ancestors, coastal traditions, and national pride. Drums and call and response singing are common at public events and village gatherings.
Families cook special meals with rice, meat or fish, and sweet treats. Food is shared from big platters so everyone eats together. Preparing and eating food is a way to show respect and care for older relatives.
Family reunions are important. Relatives travel long distances to visit, talk, and remember ancestors. Some ceremonies include rewrapping bones or offering gifts to show love and continuity between generations.
Public celebrations mix traditional dance, parades, and speeches. Markets fill with crafts and foods. Visitors often find warm hospitality and lively community spirit everywhere.
Travel Tips
Madagascar is lively during the holiday season. Many shops, banks and government offices close on key days. Tourist sites may stay open but schedules change, so check ahead before you go out.
Transportation gets busy. Domestic flights and long distance taxi brousse buses sell out early. Roads can be slow because of crowds and wet weather, so allow extra travel time between cities.
Markets and restaurants in big towns are crowded in the evenings. Some local services run on reduced hours. ATMs may run low on cash in remote areas, so carry enough money and small notes.
Plan ahead. Book flights and hotels early, keep flexible plans, pack for varied weather, and be respectful of local customs and celebrations.