Like all other countries in the world, Kiribati also celebrates the New Year. In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the year and occurs exactly one week after Christmas Day the previous year. This is an official holiday and people will stay at home, to celebrate the New Year's moment on New Year's Eve and eat intimate meals with loved ones.

Kiribati is the first country in the world to ring in the New Year, albeit on the Line Islands, and celebrations take place all around the country. There's something going on in every pub and guesthouse, as well as traditional celebrations at the local maneaba (meeting house).

For many, this is an occasion for new beginnings, to begin other promising paths into the future. Therefore, New Year is considered one of the most important festivals in Kiribati.

When: January

Independence Day is a public holiday that occurs every year on July 12th. It is the third and last day of a three-day vacation. Gospel Day, National Culture Day, and Senior Citizens Day flank it. The exact dates of these holidays are determined by the weekday July 12th happens.

Independence Day is Kiribati's national holiday, and with a population of 121,314 people, the main events will take place in South Tarawa, the capital. The hoisting of the national flag to the sound of the national anthem, the President's address, and a parade are traditionally held at the Bairiki National Stadium. South Tarawa hosts the majority of the events, which include canoe races, kite flying, and traditional dancing, as well as wrestling, rugby, and other sporting events.

When: July

Kiribati's constitution mandates that children between the ages of 6 and 15 attend school. Grades 1 through 6 are in primary school, and grades 7 through 9 are in junior secondary school (JSS). Students may move on to secondary school or seek vocational or technical occupations after completing JSS. In order to attend a higher education institution, students must graduate from secondary school.

Kiribati has designated August 7 as Youth Day. The goal of this national holiday is to encourage Kiribati's youth to live healthy lifestyles. Some of the day's main festivities, like Health Day in Kiribati, revolve around sporting competitions—soccer, volleyball, boxing, tennis, basketball, and other traditional games like local wrestling and others. There are also local dancing and singing competitions for those who are not participating in sporting events. Youth from Kiribati's numerous districts and islands compete in these various events. Following that, there is a youth beauty pageant.

When: August

The Betio Game Fishing Competition is a popular event among ex-pats in South Tarawa, held every month with competitions and weight contests at the Captain's Bar in Betio to see the catch biggest. This festival is loved by fishing lovers.

During the show, you can meet the members and foreigners, and enjoy some chat and chilled beer. It was more like an exchange between all the participants than a contest. Those who want to join this club need to pay a membership fee. Membership fees apply to those who wish to participate in the contest: annual membership is $30 for single and $50 for family.

When: monthly