Holidays in the British Virgin Islands are predominantly religious holidays, with a number of additional national holidays. The most important holiday in the Territory is the August festival, which is celebrated on the three days from (and including) the first Monday in August to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the British Virgin Islands.

Where fixed date holidays (such as Christmas Day and Boxing Day) fall on a weekend, the holiday is normally taken in lieu on the next succeeding working day. However, in 2010 when Christmas Day fell on a Saturday and Boxing Day fell on a Sunday, only one day off was given in lieu. An official explanation offered by the Attorney General's department was that because those two days are both "common law holidays" and not statutory holidays, both of them were deferred to the same date – the next Monday. The position taken by the Attorney General was somewhat surprising, as it differed with the common law position expressed to be taken in the United Kingdom.[1]

Date Name Remarks
1 January New Year's Day
7 March Lavity Stoutt's Birthday A day of recognition for the longest serving Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands
— Commonwealth Day Observed on the second Monday in March;[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] since 2021 no longer an official holiday[9][10][11][12][13][14]
— Good Friday Friday before Easter[15]
— Easter Monday Monday after Easter
— Whit Monday Monday falling 50 days after Easter
— Sovereign's Birthday Normally observed on the second Friday in June;[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] has previously generally been on the second Saturday until 2018[2][3][4][5][6]
1 July Virgin Islands Day[9][10][11][12][13][14] Exists since 1956, first as Colony Day, 1978 renamed to Territory Day, since 2021 current name[16][17][18]
— Emancipation Monday 1st Monday in August; celebrating emancipation in the Territory; called Festival Monday until 2020
— Emancipation Tuesday called Festival Tuesday until 2020
— Emancipation Wednesday called Festival Wednesday until 2020
21 October Saint Ursula's Day Patron saint of the British Virgin Islands; since 2021 no longer an official holiday[9][10][11][12][13][14]
— Heroes and Foreparents’ Day Observed on the third Monday in October;[9][10][11][12][13][14] should originally be named Heroes and Forefathers Day;[19] replaces Saint Ursula's Day since 2021
— The 1949 Great March and Restoration Day[20] Observed on the fourth Monday in November;[9][10][11][12][13][14] first observed in 2021
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Boxing Day

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ English common law applies in the British Virgin Islands pursuant to the Common Law (Declaration of Application) Act, 1705
  2. ^ a b "2015 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b "2016 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Revised 2016 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b "2017 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b "2018 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b "2019 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b "2020 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f goadmin (18 December 2020). "2021 Public Holidays". British Virgin Islands London Office. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f goadmin (7 December 2021). "CABINET APPROVES 2022 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS". British Virgin Islands London Office. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Hughes, Temulji (8 March 2022). "Revised 2022 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f goadmin (23 September 2022). "Cabinet Approves 2023 Public Holidays". British Virgin Islands London Office. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "updated_official_holidays_2023_1 | Government of the Virgin Islands". bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Cabinet Approves 2024 Public Holidays | Government of the Virgin Islands". bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  15. ^ Easter is observed in the Territory according to Western Christian traditions, ie. (in summary), on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after 21 March (the day of the ecclesiastical vernal equinox).
  16. ^ Kiani, Tamkeen (2 June 2022). "Territory Day". National Today. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  17. ^ Mirzaliyeva, Maysara (24 August 2022). "Virgin Islands Day". National Today. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  18. ^ "VI Day celebrated in a big way - The BVI Beacon". 19 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Heroes and Foreparents Day around the world in 2023". Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Message By Dr. The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley on The 1949 Great March and Restoration Day | Government of the Virgin Islands". Retrieved 16 August 2023.

External links

Public holidays in North America
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