Christmas Day in Cameroon
Christmas Day is listed by Cameroon’s Ministry of Tourism and Leisure among Christian holidays and is observed on December 25. The ministry describes it as celebrating the birth of Jesus; Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Service lists the law that sets the country’s legal holiday framework.[1][2]
Date and legal status
The Ministry of Public Service’s legal texts index lists Law No. 73/5 of December 7, 1973, which sets the regime for legal holidays in Cameroon. The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure also includes Christmas in its list of Christian holidays, gives December 25 as its date, and describes it as celebrating Jesus’s birth.[1][2]
Christmas Day is listed among Christian holidays and is observed on December 25.[2]
Christmas in Cameroon
The official description gives the holiday’s Christian meaning: Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus. This provides a Cameroon-specific reference point for the day, but the government source does not describe a distinct national origin or a single set of customs shared across the country.[2]
In 2025, the National Office for Former Combatants, Former Military Personnel and War Victims held a Christmas-tree gathering in Yaoundé for children orphaned by the deaths of members. The programme included dancing, storytelling and gifts.[3]
Planning around the holiday
Check directly with the service or business you plan to use before travelling or making plans.[2]
Frequently asked questions
When is Christmas Day in Cameroon?
It is listed on December 25, and the day celebrates the birth of Jesus.[2]
Is Christmas Day a public holiday?
Yes. Christmas Day is listed among Christian holidays and is observed on December 25.[2]
Are banks and shops open?
Check with the particular business or branch before making plans.[2]
Does public transport run on a holiday schedule?
Confirm service and departure times with the operator before travelling.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Christmas Day in Cameroon:
- TEXTES GÉNÉRAUX- Ministère de la Fonction Publique et de la Réforme Administrative
- Fêtes Légales et Fériés- Ministère du Tourisme et des Loisirs
- CELEBRATION DE L’ARBRE DE NOEL AU PROFIT DES ORPHELINS DE L’ONACAM- Ministère de la Défense