Saints Peter and Paul Day in Wallis and Futuna
Saints Peter and Paul Day falls on 29 June and is listed as a public holiday in Wallis and Futuna. On Wallis, the date is also the feast of Hihifo parish, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.[1][2]
A public holiday on 29 June
The territory’s annual holiday order lists Saints Peter and Paul among the local holidays declared for Wallis and Futuna. The order records 29 June as the date; the cultural affairs service also identifies 29 June as the feast of Hihifo parish.[1][2]
The order concerns the holiday listing for the year it covers. It does not set out a general substitute-day rule, so the available official material does not establish that a weekday off is provided when 29 June falls on a weekend.[1]
The Hihifo parish connection
The clearest local link is on Wallis, where Hihifo, the island’s northern parish, is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The cultural affairs service describes Hihifo as comprising five villages and gives 29 June as its patronal feast date.[2]
The holiday sits within a local calendar in which parish patron saints are connected to the agricultural year. Wallis’s cultural affairs service says the Catholic calendar reshaped earlier ritual calendars and that parish feast dates influence the timing of yam planting and harvests.[3]
Faith and local observance
The feast commemorates the apostles Peter and Paul, whose witness is central to the Catholic liturgical celebration on 29 June. That broader religious meaning is shared across Catholic communities; in Wallis and Futuna, the local distinction is Hihifo’s dedication to the two saints.[2][5]
The tourism office describes Mass, gift sharing called katoaga, and traditional dances as features of significant events and festivals in Wallis and Futuna. Its description is general, however, and does not specify that every parish observes Saints Peter and Paul Day with each of these customs.[4]
The cultural affairs service names yam as part of the local agricultural calendar: it says yam harvests are timed for Saints Peter and Paul Day and several other feast dates. This supports a connection between the feast calendar and yam harvest timing, but does not establish a particular holiday meal or menu.[3]
Planning around the holiday
Residents and visitors should check directly with the specific service or business they plan to use before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
When is Saints Peter and Paul Day?
Is it a public holiday across Wallis and Futuna?
The prefectural holiday order lists it among the local holidays declared in the territory. The order does not specify individual workplace arrangements.[1]
Is there a substitute day if 29 June falls on a weekend?
The holiday order states no general substitute-day rule; check the annual holiday notice for the year concerned.[1]
Are shops and public transport open?
Check opening hours and transport schedules with individual businesses and operators before making plans.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Saints Peter and Paul Day in Wallis & Futuna:
- Arrêté jours fériés 2025- Les services de l'État et du Territoire à Wallis et Futuna
- Calendriers liturgiques des cinq paroisses- Affaires Culturelles des îles Wallis et Futuna
- Calendrier agricole- Affaires Culturelles des îles Wallis et Futuna
- Churches- Tourisme à Wallis et Futuna
- Saints Peter and Paul- Vatican News