Public Holidays in Liberia 2025
Liberia recognizes a number of national public holidays and observances each year. Many commemorate the founding, national identity, prominent leaders, and religious or cultural traditions. Some holidays “in lieu” days are declared when a holiday falls on a weekend.
Overview of Liberia’s Public Holidays
The public holiday schedule in Liberia includes:
- Fixed-date national holidays such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Flag Day, Christmas
- Commemorative days for national leaders (e.g. J. J. Roberts’ Birthday, William Tubman’s Birthday)
- Religious & civic observances (e.g. Fast & Prayer Day, Thanksgiving)
- Decoration Day (a cemetery / memorial tradition) on the second Wednesday in March
When a holiday falls on a Sunday or weekend, Liberia sometimes designates a compensatory “day off” (in lieu) for the next weekday (e.g. for Flag Day).
List of Public Holidays in Liberia (2025)
| Date | Day | Holiday / Observance | Notes / Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | Fixed holiday, start of year |
| January 7 | Tuesday | Pioneers Day | Observance (not always a full public holiday) |
| February 11 | Tuesday | Armed Forces Day | Honors Liberia’s armed forces |
| March 12 | Wednesday | Decoration Day | Second Wednesday of March, memorial observance |
| March 15 | Saturday | J. J. Roberts’ Birthday | Birthday of Liberia’s first president |
| April 11 | Friday | Fast & Prayer Day | Religious / civic observance |
| May 14 | Wednesday | National Unification Day | Promotes unity among communities |
| July 26 | Saturday | Independence Day | Celebrates Liberia’s independence from colonization in 1847 |
| July 30 | Wednesday | National Prayer Day | Public holiday for prayer and reflection |
| August 24 | Sunday | Flag Day | National Flag Day |
| August 25 | Monday | Flag Day (in lieu) | Compensatory holiday since Flag Day falls on Sunday |
| November 6 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | National Thanksgiving observance |
| November 29 | Saturday | William V. S. Tubman’s Birthday | Birthday of long-serving President Tubman |
| December 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day | Christian holiday; fixed date |
Additional Notes & Observations
- Some observances like Pioneers Day are listed as “observance” rather than full public holiday in some sources.
- Flag Day in 2025 falls on Sunday (Aug 24), so the following Monday is declared a “day off” to compensate.
- Decoration Day is a culturally deep observance, tied to cemetery cleaning and memorial traditions.
- The holiday list across different sources (QPPStudio, OfficeHolidays, TimeAndDate) is broadly consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many public holidays does Liberia have in 2025?
In 2025, Liberia has around 13 national public holidays (excluding seasonal/equinox observances).
What is Decoration Day in Liberia?
Decoration Day is observed on the second Wednesday in March and is a tradition of honoring the deceased by cleaning and decorating gravesites.
Why is Flag Day observed on August 25 in 2025?
Because August 24 (Flag Day) falls on a Sunday, Liberia designates the following Monday (Aug 25) as the holiday in lieu.
Who is honored on J. J. Roberts’ Day and Tubman’s Birthday?
J. J. Roberts’ Birthday (March 15) honors Liberia’s first president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts. William V. S. Tubman’s Birthday (Nov 29) honors one of Liberia’s longest-serving presidents.
Conclusion
Public holidays in Liberia reflect national pride, historical memory, and religious tradition. Whether through Decoration Day, national unity observances, or presidential memorials, these holidays frame Liberia’s communal calendar each year.
Also explore: Public Holidays in Lesotho
