Christmas Day in Antigua & Barbuda

A public holiday under national law

The Public Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2019 lists Christmas Day on 25 December and specifies that if it falls on Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday are public holidays. The Act also lists Boxing Day separately, with its own Sunday rule.[1]

The Public Holidays Act says public holidays are to be kept as close holidays in banks, shops or stores selling goods, and public offices. It allows limited exceptions, including pharmacies supplying medicines in necessary cases, food or drink sales at public markets before 9 a.m., and petrol stations and garages for specified purposes. The Governor-General may also permit specified shops or stores to open by an order published in the Gazette.[2]

The Labour Code says employees generally cannot be obliged to work on a public holiday except in emergencies, subject to possible exemptions made by ministerial order. It also provides for pay when an employee does not work, subject to stated conditions, and additional pay for work on a public holiday. These provisions describe the legal framework; individual opening and staffing arrangements can vary where the law permits.[3]

Antigua’s remembered Christmas customs

Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, but the historical record in Antigua also preserves distinctly local festivities.[4][5] The Historical and Archaeological Society’s museum newsletter recalls Christmas masquerades that included Long Ghosts, stilt walkers, John Bulls and Ironbands. It notes that Point, All Saints and Old Road were known for Ironbands.[4]

The newsletter describes Long Ghosts and John Bulls as parts of older masquerade traditions, not as a description of what people commonly do today. A government cultural feature, drawing on material from the National Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, recounts Long Ghosts roaming streets in search of Christmas donations and describes the John Bull character accompanied by a whipman and drummer.[4][5]

The museum newsletter also records home visits by carol singers, who were offered sorrel and Christmas cake, and recalls sorrel seasoned with cinnamon and cloves. It presents these as traditions remembered from earlier Christmases.[4]

Planning for the holiday

For visitors and residents, the statutory expectation is that public offices, banks and most shops and stores are closed on a public holiday. The Act’s specific exceptions and the possibility of Gazette orders mean some services or businesses may operate; check directly with any office, shop or service you plan to use.[2]

The legal calendar distinguishes Christmas Day from Boxing Day and sets rules for substitute public holidays when Christmas falls on a weekend.[1] The heritage sources describe customs from Antigua, while the law applies across Antigua and Barbuda; the material reviewed here does not establish a separate Christmas custom or a uniform schedule of transport, restaurant or tourism services for Barbuda.[1][4]