Christmas Day

São Tomé has a sizable Christian population, accounting for over 80% of the population. Christian religious holidays, such as Christmas Day on December 25, are understandably significant. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus, the Christian messiah. The day is commemorated by attending mass and sharing meals with friends and family. Because it is a non-working day, the day has taken on a cultural significance, and most people in the country, religious or not, participate in the celebrations. Certainly, it is one of the most famous festivals in São Tomé and Príncipe

Many homes in São Tomé and Príncipe are decorated for the holidays, with the period between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day being a time of broad merriment. Christmas Dayis also a deeply religious time of year for many, a time to remember the coming of Christ into the world to save sinners.

Dates: December 25