HOLIDAYS
Tanzanians celebrate both Christian and Muslim festivals. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are observed as national holidays, along with Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Kabir and Eid-al-Maulud. Tanzanians often invite friends of other faiths to celebrate their holidays.

For Muslims, one of the most important holidays is Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and it is observed by fasting during daylight hours. In Zanzibar, during the festival of Eid-al-Fitr, men from the north and south of the island pretend to attack each other with branches from a banana tree. Women follow the men, singing songs.

Eid-al-Kabir (also known as Eid-al-Adha) is the high point of the hajj season when many Muslims go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. In some areas in Tanzania, it is customary to kill a goat on this day and share the meat with neighbours and relatives. Eid-al-Maulud celebrates the birth of the prophet Mohammed. Children often receive gifts on this holiday. 
  Did you know?
When a holiday falls on a weekend, it is moved to the following Monday. Tuesday is automatically declared a holiday, so that people have four days off work.
Union Day is celebrated by all Tanzanians on April 26, to mark the alliance of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Zanzibar Revolution Day is celebrated on January 12 and International Labour Day on May 1. On Labour Day, parades are held in large cities. Workers assemble at their factories or offices before taking part in the parade. People also listen to the president's message on the radio.

 Peasants' Day is celebrated on August 8 and Independence Day on December 9. Shops and factories are closed on all holidays, but restaurants, hotels and nightclubs are open for business, so that Tanzanians can go out to celebrate.

January 1 New Year’s Day
January 12 Zanzibar Revolution Day 
March or April Easter
April 26 Union Day
May 1 International Labour Day
July 7 Saba-Saba (International Trade Fair Day)
August 8 Nane Nane (Peasants' Day)
December 9 Independence Day
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 Boxing Day