Easter Monday in Sierra Leone
Easter Monday is a public holiday in Sierra Leone, listed in the country’s Public Holidays Ordinance. The law specifically provides for public offices and banks to observe it; private businesses and services may follow their own arrangements.[1]
Meaning and local context
Easter Monday falls on the day after Easter Sunday, the Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. In Sierra Leone, an Easter message from the Catholic Diocese of Kenema describes the resurrection as a source of joy and thanksgiving, and offers blessings for families, communities and the nation.[2][3]
The legal recognition of Easter Monday gives it a countrywide civic role alongside its religious significance.[1][2]
Public holiday status
Sierra Leone’s Public Holidays Ordinance, enacted in 1932, lists Easter Monday in its schedule. It says scheduled holidays are to be kept in public offices and banks. It also allows heads of government or municipal departments to require staff to work on a public holiday when public service needs or public convenience call for it.[1]
The ordinance provides that if a scheduled public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day that is not itself a public holiday is observed in its place. Easter Monday follows Easter Sunday, so the Sunday substitute rule does not create a separate fixed-date substitute for it.[1][3]
Planning for the day
The law provides for public offices and banks to observe the holiday, subject to the provision allowing government departments to require necessary work. Check with private workplaces, shops, markets, schools and transport services before making plans, as the ordinance does not set their opening hours or transport schedules.[1]
For travellers, check public transport, routes, traffic and opening hours with the relevant operator or venue. The ordinance also says court sittings do not begin on a public holiday, which may affect court-related business.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Sierra Leone?
Yes. It is listed in the Public Holidays Ordinance, which provides for scheduled holidays to be kept in public offices and banks.[1]
Does every worker get the day off or holiday pay?
The ordinance names public offices and banks, and allows some government staff to be required to work. Check your holiday entitlement with your employer.[1]
Are shops and supermarkets open?
Shops and supermarkets set their own hours, so check with the individual business before visiting.
Do buses, taxis and other transport services run as usual?
Transport services set their own schedules, so confirm service times and routes with the operator before travelling.
Sources and references
Sources used for Easter Monday in Sierra Leone:
- Public Holidays Ordinance, 1932 [Cap. 58]- Sierra Leone Web; scanned by the Sierra Leone Pro Bono Network
- Easter Message from the Diocese of Kenema- Catholic Diocese of Kenema
- 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Easter- Encyclopædia Britannica (hosted by Wikisource)