Festivals

Although Mauritania's festival culture is still growing, there are a few religious events and Mauritania holidays worth highlighting. African Liberation Day is a continent-wide celebration of togetherness that offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the region's history.

For the Hindu community, there are other cultural and religious celebrations such as Diwali. Mauritania commemorates the foundation of the Organization for African Unity, currently known as the African Union, on May 25th every year. The day is remembered across the continent and is frequently referred to as "Africa Day." Conferences, exhibitions, and displays honor the diverse African traditions that exist in the country and outside.

Tabaski, a two/three-day festival in October honoring the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his first-born son to God, is one of the most prominent holidays on the Islamic, and hence Mauritanian calendars. Because participants butcher a sheep, the celebration is also called as the Feast of the Sacrifice, as it resembles Ibrahim's final deeds in the biblical story. During feasts around the country, the meat is split among friends and family.