The government and people of Niger observe twelve official public holidays.[1][2] These include international commemorations, the commemoration of important dates in the history of Niger, and religious holidays. Both Christian and Muslim holidays are observed as official public holidays.
Muslim holidays are dependent on the Islamic calendar, and—like Christian Easter—move from year to year. Some Muslim holidays are also dependent upon astronomical sightings (e.g.: the observance of moonrise for Ramadan). National commemorations and secular international holidays are fixed on the Gregorian calendar, the standard civil calendar used in Niger as most of the world.
Nigeriens celebrate a number of other holidays, festivals, and commemorations which are not public holidays. Some are yearly civic commemorations, some religious, ethnic, or regional festivals which may be widely celebrated only by specific groups or in specific areas. Other yearly events, such as cultural festivals, markets, or sporting events may be much anticipated events without being legal holidays.
- ^ NIGER - JOURS FÉRIÉS / PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. SERVICE DE L’INFORMATION AÉRONAUTIQUE - A S E C N A (Niamey), 2005-01-19.
- ^ Jean-Paul Labourdette, Dominique Auzias. Niger 2009. Petit Futé: Paris (2008) ISBN 978-2-7469-1640-1 p.208.