Christmas Day in Mauritius
Christmas Day is a public holiday in Mauritius on 25 December, when the country’s summer season is under way.[1][2] The day marks the birth of Jesus Christ; Mauritius’s official cultural overview lists Christmas among the country’s main religious festivals.[2]
A public holiday set by law
The Public Holidays Act names Christmas as an annual public holiday and fixes its celebration on 25 December.[1] The Act does not provide an automatic substitute day when Christmas falls on a weekend.[1]
The Workers’ Rights Act provides a normal day’s pay for a worker when a public holiday falls on one of that worker’s normal working days. If the worker is required to work, the Act also provides for additional remuneration under its overtime rules; this does not mean every worker is guaranteed to be off duty.[3]
Christmas in Mauritius’s summer
Mauritius’s government describes Christmas as a religious and cultural celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is one of several religious festivals observed in a society the government characterizes as culturally plural, with collective participation in festivals among people from different backgrounds.[2]
December falls within Mauritius’s summer season, which the government says runs from October to March. The official climate overview describes the island’s climate as tropical in summer, so Christmas takes place in a warm-season setting.[2]
Public celebrations and customs
A government tourism account of the 2019 Mauritius Magical Xmas described carol performances by local choirs and other artists, festive decorations, decorative lights and a nativity display at events in Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. This is a documented example of public Christmas programming, not a fixed annual schedule.[4]
Christmas meals and customs vary across Mauritius. Mauritian cuisine draws on traditions from France, India, China and Africa, but particular dishes are not identified as Christmas food.[2]
What to expect on the day
The Public Holidays Act allows an act due before a judge, court officer or government official on a public holiday to be done the following day. It does not set out a universal opening schedule for banks, shops or public transport, so travelers should check directly with the service they plan to use.[1]
Christmas Day in Mauritius: FAQs
Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Mauritius?
Yes. The Public Holidays Act lists Christmas as an annual public holiday on 25 December.[1]
Does everyone get the day off work?
The holiday does not guarantee that every worker is off duty. The Workers’ Rights Act provides for normal pay when a public holiday falls on a worker’s normal working day, and additional remuneration when the worker is required to work.[3]
Is there a substitute day if Christmas falls on a weekend?
The Public Holidays Act lists 25 December as Christmas Day and contains no automatic substitute-day rule for it.[1]
Are banks, shops and buses open?
Check opening hours and transport arrangements with the particular bank, shop or transport provider before travelling.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Christmas Day in Mauritius:
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ACT- Laws of Mauritius, Government of Mauritius
- Republic of Mauritius- Government of Mauritius
- A Consolidated Version of the Workers’ Rights Act 2019 (as at 2 August 2022)- Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations, Republic of Mauritius
- Magical Xmas 2019- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Mauritius