New Year’s Day

Like the rest of the world, Tonga celebrates New Year's Day with a public holiday on January 1st. However, the main party starts on New Year's Eve and peaks with the change of the clock from 11:59 p.m. on December 31 to midnight on January 1.

Tonga's holiday trinity of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day offers structure to the end-of-year and beginning-of-year annual celebrations. Because Tonga is predominantly Christian and religious, many people will attend special church services on December 31 or January 1, or at the very least focus on the religious importance of the new year during regular services on the last Sunday of the year.

Due to the fact that over half of Tongans living abroad, primarily in the United States, Australia, or New Zealand, the Christmas-to-New-Year period is a time when some may travel home for the holidays. Because many families rely on remittances from their overseas working relatives, they can finally see each other in person rather than merely through the mail, email, and video calls. Like other countries in the world, New Year is one of the most famous festivals in Tonga.

When: New Year’s Eve December 31 & New Year’s Day January 1