When is All Saints’ Day?
In 2026, All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026. It is classified here as a paid public holiday.
History of All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day in Senegal is the fixed November 1 Christian legal holiday honouring all saints, known and unknown. In Catholic practice it is a feast of the whole communion of saints; it should not be collapsed into All Souls' Day on November 2, which is specifically devoted to remembrance of the dead and is not separately listed as a legal holiday.
The November 1 holiday has been part of the national list in Law 74-52 since 1974, reflecting legal recognition of Christian festivals in a Muslim-majority, constitutionally secular republic. Christian congregations and families may mark it through worship or remembrance, while others observe only the day off. In 2026 it falls on Sunday, and the law provides no automatic Monday substitute for this feast.
All Saints’ Day is a legal, nonworking holiday under Law 74-52. The base act expressly makes April 4, May 1, the day after Tamkharit and the Grand Magal paid; it does not by itself give every other holiday the same paid status, although collective agreements and sector rules can be more favourable. Decree 74-1125 allows necessary continuous services to operate and confirms that neither a Sunday placement nor the day before or after creates a substitute or bridge without specific legal authority.
How All Saints’ Day is observed
Christian legal holiday on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Monday, November 2 is not automatically an observed public holiday.
Traditions of All Saints’ Day
Household and community practice
Christians may attend Mass or another service, pray for holiness and spend time with family; practices differ by denomination. Participation, food, language and devotional practice differ among regions, religious communities, brotherhoods and households.
Organised observance
Parishes announce their own liturgy, music and any cemetery-related pastoral activity, with remembrance often continuing on All Souls' Day. The responsible organisers publish the actual programme, venue and access arrangements for each edition.
Planning the holiday
Verify Monday opening hours instead of relying on calendars that incorrectly apply a general Sunday-substitution rule. Residents and visitors should check current government, transport, school, congregation and workplace notices rather than assume every service closes.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Senegal official holiday calendar or legislation. Government, regional, school and employer schedules in Senegal may differ; check the linked official source and current local notices before making time-sensitive plans.
History sources: Senegal National Archives: Law 74-52 on the national day and legal holidays, Official Gazette: Decree 74-1125 applying Senegal's holiday law, Senegal National Archives: Law 2013-06 adding the Grand Magal, RTS: legislative history of the paid day after Tamkharit, Senegalese Press Agency: CONACOC confirms Korité for March 21, 2026, Senegalese Press Agency: differing community observance of Korité in 2026, Senegalese Press Agency: CONACOC confirms Tabaski for May 28, 2026, Senegalese Press Agency: religious and local dimensions of Tamkharit, Senegalese Press Agency: CONACOC confirms the 2026 Mawlid night, Senegalese Press Agency: official ceremony of the 2026 Grand Magal, Japan Association for Middle East Studies: Ahmad Bamba's exile and the Magal, Senegal Ministry of Culture: history of independence, Presidency of Senegal: official 2026 Independence Day ceremony, Senegalese Press Agency: paid holiday after the 2025 AFCON victory, Presidency of Senegal: national celebration of the Lions' AFCON victory, Senegalese Press Agency: Labour Day and social dialogue in 2026, Senegalese Press Agency: Pentecost and the 2026 Popenguine pilgrimage, Senegalese Press Agency: Christmas worship, peace and support for people in need, Encyclopaedia Britannica: the Christian liturgical year.
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