The government of Trinidad and Tobago officially recognises a number of holidays and celebrations from most represented groups. The following holidays are those that are officially observed in Trinidad and Tobago:Official Public Holidays 2009-2011, Trinidad and Tobago Government Portal
Public holidays Date English name Remarks 1 January New Year's Day The celebration of the first day of the Gregorian Calendar. Variable Good Friday Christian day marking the death of Jesus Christ. Variable Easter Monday When holidays fall on a Sunday, the Monday is given as a public holiday. Therefore, "Easter Monday", the Monday following Easter Sunday, is a public holiday. 30 March Spiritual Baptist Shouter Liberation Day First country in the world to recognise the Spiritual Baptist faith with a national holiday Variable Corpus Christi Christian feast in honour of the Holy Eucharist 30 May Indian Arrival Day The first country in the world to recognise Indian indentureship, though Indian laborers were indentured all over the world, including the Caribbean, Oceania, Indian Ocean, and Eastern Africa. 19 June Labour Day Marks the labour uprising on 19 June 1937 which is generally recognised as the start of the modern trade union movement in Trinidad and Tobago. 1 August Emancipation Day Recognizing emancipation from slavery. The first country in the world to recognise the end of slavery in the British colonies. 31 August Independence Day The day Trinidad and Tobago declared independence from the British 24 September Republic Day Celebrating the day Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic. Variable Eid al-Fitr End of Ramadan. Locally taken as an official recognition of Islam. It is one of the most important holidays on the Islamic calendar and is the most widely and publicly celebrated Muslim holiday in the country followed closely by Eid al-Adha (which is not an official holiday in the country). Variable Divali The Hindu festival of lights. It celebrates Ram's return to his kingdom from 14 years exile. This festival also acknowledges Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. 25 December Christmas Day The Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. 26 December Boxing Day A Commonwealth gift-giving traditional holiday.
Carnival dates The table shows a list of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival dates from 2009 to 2020.Trinidad Carnival Dates
Calendar year Carnival Monday Carnival Tuesday 2009 February 23 February 24 2010 February 15 February 16 2011 March 7 March 8 2012 February 20 February 21 2013 February 11 February 12 2014 March 3 March 4 2015 February 16 February 172016 February 8 February 92017 February 27 February 282018 February 12 February 132019 March 4 March 52020 February 24 February 252021 - No carnival due to COVID-19 pandemic2022 - No carnival due to COVID-19 pandemic2023February 20February 21
Other holidays Muslim schools get a day off on Eid-al-Adha every year and some businesses close on this day.
One-off holidays In 2006, the government declared 12 October 2006 (Chinese Bicentennial) a public holiday but only for that year. In 2017, the government declared 13 October 2017 (First Peoples' Day) a public holiday but only for that year.
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