Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius
Mauritius observes Abolition of Slavery as a public holiday every 1 February. The date commemorates the end of slavery on the island in 1835 and is marked by ceremonies of remembrance and tributes to enslaved people and their descendants.[1][2][3]
A public holiday on 1 February
The Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2015 added the “Day of commemoration of Abolition of Slavery” on 1 February to the holidays observed every year under Mauritius’s Public Holidays Act. The Act gives the date but does not specify a substitute day when it falls on a Sunday.[1]
The Act establishes the date as a public holiday, but it does not say that every worker has the day off or set opening hours for private businesses. It allows certain acts due before a court or government official on a public holiday to be completed the following day. The Act does not prescribe a transport timetable or require shops and banks to close.[1][4]
The history remembered
Mauritius’s National Archives records that slavery was abolished under British rule in 1835. The change was followed by the arrival of indentured labourers from India to work on plantations, part of the island’s later social history.[2]
The date has particular meaning in Mauritius because slavery and resistance to it shaped the island’s history. UNESCO describes Le Morne as a refuge for people who escaped enslavement and as a symbol of their struggle, suffering and sacrifice. The site’s oral traditions also connect that history with the memories of Mauritian Creole people.[3]
Ceremonies and remembrance
Official commemorations have included wreath-laying ceremonies at the International Slave Route Monument near Le Morne and at other historic sites. A government programme for the 190th anniversary also included a cultural programme at Le Morne Public Beach and events at Vieux Grand Port. These examples show that commemorations can take place at several sites; the programme may vary from year to year.[5]
Le Morne’s significance is rooted in its documented history as a place of shelter for maroons, or people who escaped slavery. UNESCO recognizes the cultural landscape as an exceptional record of resistance to slavery, supported by physical evidence and oral traditions.[3]
Planning your day
Because 1 February is a public holiday, official business may follow holiday arrangements, but the law does not establish uniform closures for banks, shops, visitor sites or public transport. Check directly with the office, business or transport provider you plan to use.[1][4]
Frequently asked questions
When is Abolition of Slavery observed in Mauritius?
It is observed every year on 1 February, the date listed in the Public Holidays Act.[1]
Is it a public holiday?
Yes. The law designates 1 February as the annual Day of commemoration of Abolition of Slavery. Work arrangements can depend on the worker and employer; the Act does not say that every worker has the day off.[1]
Is there a substitute day if 1 February falls on a Sunday?
The Act lists 1 February as the holiday and does not specify a substitute day for it.[1]
What happens during commemorations?
Are shops, banks and public transport open?
The Public Holidays Act does not set opening hours or transport schedules. Check with the specific business or transport provider before travelling.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius:
- THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) ACT 2015- National Assembly of Mauritius
- 1835- National Archives Department, Republic of Mauritius
- Le Morne Cultural Landscape- UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT- Attorney-General’s Office, Republic of Mauritius
- Highlights of Cabinet Meeting – Friday 17 January 2025- Prime Minister’s Office, Republic of Mauritius