Ascension Day in Wallis and Futuna
Ascension Day is listed as a public holiday in Wallis and Futuna. Its date changes with Easter, and its Christian meaning is part of a wider Catholic tradition that has a long history in the territory.[1][2][3]
Public holiday status
Wallis and Futuna’s territorial employment rules list Ascension among the legal public holidays. A prefectural order also lists the territory’s holidays for each year, including Ascension; the 2025 order is one example. Not every worker has the day off under the same conditions.[1][2]
Ascension falls on a Thursday, 39 days after Easter Sunday, and its date moves from year to year. The 2025 order lists it on a Thursday; the Catholic Church describes the feast as celebrated on Thursday, forty days after Easter.[2][4]
Christian meaning and local history
For Christians, Ascension commemorates Jesus’ return to God after the Resurrection. The Catholic Church in France describes it as part of the Easter season and as looking ahead to Pentecost.[4]
The holiday’s local setting reflects the history of Catholicism in Wallis and Futuna. The French state’s general presentation of the territory says that Marist priests in Wallis and Father Pierre Chanel in Futuna had brought about the population’s evangelisation by 1840.[3]
Services, customs and planning
The sources confirm the holiday’s legal listing and the territory’s Catholic history. No particular parish service, family gathering, or regional difference is identified as typical for Ascension Day.[1][3]
The annual order identifies Ascension as a holiday. Residents and visitors should check directly with the service or business they plan to use, especially for appointments and travel arrangements.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Is Ascension Day a public holiday in Wallis and Futuna?
When is Ascension Day celebrated?
Do all workers have the day off?
Are banks, shops, offices, or transport services open?
Check with the relevant office, business, or transport operator before making plans.
Sources and references
Sources used for Ascension Day in Wallis & Futuna:
- TERRITOIRE DES ÎLES WALLIS ET FUTUNA- Les services de l'État et du Territoire à Wallis et Futuna
- Arrêté jours fériés 2025- Les services de l'État et du Territoire à Wallis et Futuna
- Présentation générale- Les services de l'État et du Territoire à Wallis et Futuna
- Que fête-t-on à l’Ascension ?- Conférence des évêques de France