Our national holidays are certain to delight visitors of all ages. We trust you will join in the jubilee, complete with Gombey dancers and a parade.

• New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2009
  
• Good Friday, Friday, March 21, 2008; Friday, April 10, 2009
  Many Bermudians traditionally celebrate Good Friday by flying kites on Horseshoe Bay beach followed by a meal of codfish cakes and hot cross buns.
  
• Bermuda Day, Monday, May 26, 2008; Monday, May 25, 2009
  Originally, this day was observed to honour the birthday of Queen Empress Victoria. Currently, the Marathon Derby (a 13-mile race from Somerset to Hamilton) and Bermuda Fitted Dinghy races take centre stage.
  
• Queen’s Birthday, Monday, June 16, 2008; Monday, June 15, 2009
  Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, but her birthday is always celebrated in June. A formal military parade winds through Hamilton in her honour.
  
• Emancipation Day & Somers' Day, Thursday, July 31 - Friday, August 1, 2008; Thursday, July 30, 2009
  Before 1947, too many Bermudians were missing work to attend an annual cricket tournament, the Cup Match. So it was declared a two-day holiday, with historical reason — Emancipation Day commemorates the end of slavery and Somers’ Day honours Sir George Somers, whose shipwreck brought our first settlers. Those who do not have tickets to the cricket match gather in parks and listen to the game on the radio.
  
• Labour Day, Monday, September 1, 2008; Monday, September 7, 2009
  
• Remembrance Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2008; Wednesday, November 11, 2009
  Locals gather to pay tribute to Bermudians who have served or died in war. There is a memorial service and parade.
  
• Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 2008; Friday, December 25, 2009
  
• Boxing Day, Friday, December 26, 2008; Saturday, December 26, 2009