{"id":1431,"date":"2020-07-04T12:54:25","date_gmt":"2020-07-04T12:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/?p=1431"},"modified":"2026-03-11T21:14:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:14:27","slug":"the-main-holidays-in-tanzania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/","title":{"rendered":"The Main Holidays in Tanzania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The culture of the Tanzanian people is wonderful and amazing. They mostly prioritize family and religion and they foster a strong sense of community. Immersing yourself in the culture and traditions of Tanzania also means living at the rhythm of the main holidays and understanding what they represent for the population. Regarding handshakes, in Tanzania handshakes are a must, no matter how many people you\u2019re greeting at once. Even if you enter a room or place with 40 people, you are expected to greet each person individually. You should make sure to greet the most elderly first and then go on to greet the youngest people in the place, don\u2019t rush this process since once you rush it\u2019s considered as bad behavior.<br><br>Tanzania used to commemorate important historical and political events, such as Independence Anniversary, Union Day and the Anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Independence_Anniversary\" >Independence Anniversary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Union_anniversary\" >Union anniversary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Anniversary_of_the_Zanzibar_Revolution\" >Anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Religious_Holidays\" >Religious Holidays<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Christmas_Day\" >Christmas Day<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Easter_Day\" >Easter Day<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Ramadan\" >Ramadan<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Eid_al-Adha\" >Eid al-Adha<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/04\/the-main-holidays-in-tanzania\/#Other_parties\" >Other parties<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Independence_Anniversary\"><\/span><strong>Independence Anniversary<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This public holiday is always celebrated on December 9th. Tanzanians used to celebrate the end of British rule in Tanganyika (now called Tanzania) in 1961. It is Tanzania&#8217;s National Day, a day when the Tanzanian people mark their independence with speeches, parades and flags. Tanzania originally was a German colony, this region had been occupied by the British, Belgians and Portuguese during the First World War to finally be baptized Tanganyika and pass under exclusive British mandate in 1919. With a gradual process of decolonization and under the impulse of the party of JK Nyerere, Tanganyika therefore definitively gained independence in 1961.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Union_anniversary\"><\/span><strong>Union anniversary<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This day is commemorated, complete with flags and parades in traditional dress. Tanganyika and Zanzibar united on 26th April, 1964. This led to the formation of The United Republic of Tanzania under the first president of Tanzania, the late J.K. Nyerere and the late Abeid Karume, the first president of Zanzibar. Since the birth of the new state, the Zanzibar archipelago has enjoyed a particular status and a certain independence and still has its own parliament and a lot of autonomy in internal management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Anniversary_of_the_Zanzibar_Revolution\"><\/span><strong>Anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every 12 January is a national holiday both in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar as a special day to remember the Zanzibar Revolution that occurred in 1964. It is also the day when Abeid Karume took the office. This day put an end to the constitutional monarchy born in the archipelago after independence from the United Kingdom and allowed the birth of a socialist republic. It was this republic that then joined Tanganyika to create the current United Republic of Tanzania. If you are in Stone Town on January 12, you will be lucky enough to attend the Ngalawa regatta (double-balance Swahili canoes) which takes place in front of the People&#8217;s Palace and evocatively celebrates this anniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Religious_Holidays\"><\/span>Religious Holidays<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, religious freedom is a virtue that has contributed to Tanzania&#8217;s peace since the nation&#8217;s independence. All religious holidays receive equal public recognition. There are many Christian and Muslim religious holidays on the official calendar of Tanzania and some of those religious holidays are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Christmas_Day\"><\/span><strong>Christmas Day<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>December 25 every year is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world and Tanzania is among the countries used to celebrate the birth of Jesus especially Christians on this day. This day in Tanzania is a public holiday and it is a day off for the general population, schools and most businesses are closed. People celebrate Christmas by traveling back from the cities to the villages to spend time with their parents and this results in road travel booms from around one to two weeks before\/after 25th December. Also during this time it is normal to see people decorating their homes and cities using different materials reflecting this day especially Christmas\u2019s trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Easter_Day\"><\/span><strong>Easter Day<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the most important in Christian holy days, Easter in Tanzania is celebrated especially with two holidays on Good Friday and the day after Easter Sunday. The date of Easter changes every 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 the months of March or April. During this time like other important holidays people often used to buy new clothes and prepare special meals for their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ramadan\"><\/span><strong>Ramadan<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a month-long religious event that is celebrated by Muslims all over the country where during this time, Muslims fast from sun-up to sundown every day for almost 30 days. In areas where the Muslim religion is more deeply rooted as Zanzibar, it is normal to find some restaurants closed and it is a good rule for tourists not to eat in public during this period. Eid al-Fitr, the great festival that marks the end of Ramadan, is an important moment for the population who organize banquets and balls in which you can also participate. If you want to experience the atmosphere and warmth of Eid al-Fitr up close, Zanzibar is the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eid_al-Adha\"><\/span><strong>Eid al-Adha<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most important of all Islamic festivals, is a public holiday in Tanzania. It is a festival of sacrifice, also called Eid al-Kabir, or large festival, is the most important festival of the Muslim religion and corresponds to the tenth day of the last month of the Islamic calendar, therefore like Ramadan also the day Eid changes every year. Commemorating the sacrifice of Ibrahim, ready to offer his son to God, Eid al-Kabir symbolizes faith and sharing for Muslims. This very important anniversary brings together the entire Muslim community in moments of prayer and celebration that last several days. Among the holidays related to the Muslim religion, we also mention Eid-Milad-an-Nabi, which celebrates the birth of Muhammad and corresponds to the twelfth day of the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_parties\"><\/span><strong>Other parties<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to those mentioned above, other important holidays dot to the Tanzania calendar includes the Farmers&#8217; Day on August 8th, the Labor Day on May 1st, all Christian and Muslim holidays, January 1st and also the Persian New Year (Mwaka Kogwa ) celebrated the third week of July in Zanzibar and especially in Makunduchi, south of Unguja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are waiting for You to discovery the beauties of Tanzania and its cultute, contact us at <a href=\"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SavannahExplorers.net<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The culture of the Tanzanian people is wonderful and amazing. They mostly prioritize family and religion and they foster a strong sense of community. Immersing yourself in the culture and traditions of Tanzania also means living at the rhythm of the main holidays and understanding what they represent for the population. Regarding handshakes, in Tanzania [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1435,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[96,94,95,36,73],"class_list":["post-1431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tanzania-hints-and-tips","tag-adventure","tag-holidays","tag-public-holidays","tag-safari","tag-tanzania"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1431"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1763,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1431\/revisions\/1763"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savannahexplorers.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}