Holidays

Holidays in Reunion

On Reunion you have the chance to experience Tamil temple festivals, Chinese New Year and the classic Christian festivals all in one place. While the island is politically part of France, its location in the Indian Ocean and the colorful makeup of the population also make for a very unique take on many holidays.

Overview

New Year’s Day – January 1

Easter – Flexible

Labor Day – May 1

Victory Day – May 8

Ascension Day – Flexible

National Day – July 14

Massumption Day – August 15

All Saints Day – November 01

Armistice Day – November 11

Slavery Abolition Day – December 20

Christmas – December 25

Worth knowing about selected holidays

Victory Day

On this day, Reunion residents commemorate the unconditional surrender of the German Wehrmacht, which marked the end of World War II.

National Day

As in France, Reunion also celebrates National Day. On this day, all shops and government offices are closed. The inhabitants commemorate the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, but military parades, as in metropolitan France, are not to be expected in Reunion. People are enjoying their day off and celebrating boisterously in the streets.

Abolition of slavery

Slavery on the island was not abolished until December 20, 1848. Today, the day is celebrated with lively street festivals. Often it is turbulent, the different ethnic groups come together in the colorful hustle and bustle, the music plays and it is danced and dined into the night.

Christmas

The Christmas tree in Reunion is often a casuarina, which is festively decorated. The branches of this horsetail plant can also be purchased as a tourist at the roadside, where they are offered for sale by the farmers. The island’s Christmas traditions also include setting up a nativity scene, both centrally in the church and in your own home.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas holidays, families gather for large feasts. Traditional dishes include lychees, mangoes and Christmas cake. Cari, a boiled ragout of meat and various spices, is also popular.