All Saints’ Day in Congo - Brazzaville
In the Republic of the Congo, All Saints’ Day, or La Toussaint, is a public holiday fixed on November 1. The law makes it a paid, non-working day across the country; official commemorations in Brazzaville have included a tribute at a public cemetery.[1][2]
A national public holiday
Law No. 2-94 of March 1, 1994 lists November 1, La Toussaint, among the days declared public, non-working and paid throughout the Republic of the Congo. The law sets the holiday on November 1 and does not specify a replacement day when that date falls on a Sunday. It also says the rules for paying non-working days and handling overtime or hours lost are governed by the regulations in force.[1]
This is a nationwide legal status, rather than a Brazzaville-only observance. The law establishes the day as non-working and paid. Travelers should check directly with the service they plan to use for holiday hours.[1]
Religious meaning and local context
All Saints’ Day is a Christian feast associated with honoring all the saints. In a report from Brazzaville, the Agence Congolaise d’Information quoted a Congolese minister describing the observance as a Catholic tradition that the country adopted and marks each November 1. That account connects the holiday’s religious meaning with a public act of remembrance in the Congolese setting.[2]
Ask local churches about services and local communities about customs.[2][3]
Commemorations at Brazzaville cemeteries
ACI reported government tributes at Moukoundzi-Ngouaka public cemetery in Brazzaville on All Saints’ Day. The documented ceremony included a wreath placed at a memorial and a moment marked by the national anthem; a later report described a tribute followed by a sounding of the Force publique’s “last post.” These reports show an official commemorative dimension alongside the religious observance.[2][3]
The 2025 report records local authorities and residents maintaining the cemetery as All Saints’ Day and National Cleanliness Day coincided.[3]
Planning around the holiday
Because the law classifies November 1 as non-working and paid, people arranging official or workplace business should account for a public holiday. Check local notices and operators for current transport arrangements.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When is All Saints’ Day in Congo - Brazzaville?
It is observed on November 1. The 1994 law names that date and does not state a substitute day for when it falls on a Sunday.[1]
Is it a public day off?
Yes. The law declares November 1 a public, non-working and paid day throughout the Republic of the Congo.[1]
What happens in Brazzaville?
Are banks, shops and public transport closed?
The holiday law does not list specific business closures or transport schedules. Check with the relevant office, bank, shop or transport operator for its holiday hours.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for All Saints' Day in Congo - Brazzaville:
- Loi n° 2 - 94 du 1er Mars 1994 FIXANT LES JOURS FRIÉS, CHÔMÉS ET PAYÉS- Secrétariat Général du Gouvernement de la République du Congo
- Congo/Commémoration : Le gouvernement honore la mémoire des personnes enterrées au cimetière de Moukoundzi-Ngouaka- Agence Congolaise d'Information
- Congo/Commémoration : Le gouvernement honore la mémoire des disparus au cimetière de Moukoundzi Ngouaka- Agence Congolaise d'Information