Holidays in Namibia

Being named Namibia, most people first think of untouched nature and game parks through which lions, zebras and giraffes roam. But this country can also come up with a variety of interesting holidays.

Overview:

New Year’s Day – January 1

Independence Day – March 21

Karif Friday – Flexible

Easter Monday – Flexible

Christmas Ascension Day – Flexible

Labor Day – May 01

Cassinga Day – 04 May

Africa Day – May 25

Hero’s Day – 26 August

Namibian Women’s Day and International Human Rights Day – 10 December

Christmas – 25 December

Family Day – 26 December

Worth knowing about selected holidays

Cassinga Day

A tragic event is the reason for this holiday. In 1978, South African soldiers bombed a SWAPO (South-West Africa People's Organisation) refugee camp. Nearly 1,000 civilians, including many women and children, were killed at the time. The dead are commemorated every year with wreath-laying ceremonies at Windhoek’s Heroes’ Cemetery.

Africa Day

Africa Day commemorates the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963, when 30 African states signed the charter in Addis Ababa. No major celebrations are taking place in Namibia. Businesses will be open on a half-day basis.

Heroes’ Day

In 1966, SWAPO first stood up to the mandate power, South Africa. Although the UN had withdrawn South Africa’s mandate, this was not implemented. As a result, SWAPO’s armed arm, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia, took action against South Africa. The country responded by bombing a SWAPO camp. This was the beginning of the struggle for Namibia’s independence.

Christmas

Getting up early is first Christian duty at Christmas for the Ovambo, as church services in Namibia start as early as 04:00 in many places. Afterwards, they cook together, such as a goat or a pig. Afterwards, the family sits down for a meal together, which includes home-brewed beer as well as raisin bread with jam.

The Herero, on the other hand, another tribe of Namibia, traditionally slaughter an animal. It is skinned and laid out hairy side down. The men trample on the hide with their bare feet. The blood is not washed off the feet afterwards. This ritual is said to bring good luck for the next year. The slaughtered animal is then consumed on the spot. None of it is allowed to be taken home.

Some people in Namibia are also critical of Christmas, seeing it as a festival imposed on them by colonial powers. For them, it remains the festival of the occupiers.