Tanzania Travel Guide - Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
12 Jan Zanzibar Revolution Day. 
20 Mar Birth of the Prophet.
21 Mar Good Friday. 
24 Mar Easter Monday.
26 Apr Union Day.
1 May International Labour Day.
7 Jul Saba Saba (Industry's Day).
8 Aug Nane Nane (Farmer's Day).
1 Sep Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan).
14 Oct Nyerere Day.
8-9 Dec Eid al-Adha.
9 Dec Independence and Republic Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
12 Jan Zanzibar Revolution Day. 
9 Mar Birth of the Prophet.
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
26 Apr Union Day.
1 May International Labour Day.
7 Jul Saba Saba (Industry's Day).
8 Aug Nane Nane (Farmer's Day).
22 Aug Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan).
14 Oct Nyerere Day.
27-28 Nov Eid al-Adha.
9 Dec Independence and Republic Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be disrupted slightly, especially along the coast and on the islands. Zanzibar and Pemba are fairly conservative and during this time it is considered highly impolite to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Kebir (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.