Vodun Festival
Season or date: January 10
National traditional Vodun religious celebration centered in Ouidah with colorful costumes and drum rhythms honoring deities
Festivals in Benin
Discover traditional festivals and celebrations of this country
Festivals
National Day
Season or date: August 1
National holiday celebrating 1960 independence with parades and fireworks
Gaani Festival
Season or date: Islamic month of Rabi
Northern Bariba royal event where king appears before people in horse procession
Gelede Masked Dance
Season or date: Village-selected dates March-May
UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Yoruba communities honor ancestors and nature with masked dances
Fête du Fitin
Season or date: September
Northern Somba harvest thanksgiving festival celebrating good harvest with millet beer and dancing
Christmas
Season or date: December 25
Celebrated grandly in Christian-majority south with city illuminations
Tabaski (Eid al-Adha)
Season or date: Around 10th of Islamic month Dhul Hijjah
Muslim holiday sacrificing sheep to share meat with family and poor
Public holidays
- New Year''s Day
- Vodun Festival
- Easter
- Ascension Day
- National Day
- Assumption of Mary
- Tabaski
- Eid al-Fitr
- All Saints'' Day
- Christmas