January

New Year’s Day
Epiphany or “Fete des Rois”
The day of Epiphany, January 6, marks the beginning of the Carnival season lasting until Lent. The carnival associations rehearse in the streets prior to the carnival.

February

Shrove Tuesday – February 12
Ash Wednesday
Shrove Tuesday: Carnival is at the height of frenzy and all business stop working for five days. There are big parades of float, costumed groups empty out onto the streets singing and dancing.

March

Mid-Lent -a day of carnival in lent – Public Holiday
Holidays – Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
At the middle of the Lenten season there is one day in which people party and specifically dress in black and red disguises. The Easter Holidays are held either in late March or early April.

April

Cockfight season begins

Information regarding information on any thing that occurs in Guadeloupe, including cockfighting can be obtained by calling the Tourism office, Tel: ++590-82.09.30.

May

Labour Day – May 1 – Public Holiday
Saint Patron’s Day in Vieux-Habitants (Saint Joseph) May 3 – 5
Saint Patron’s Day in Petit-Canal (Saint Philipp/Saint Jacques).
Victory Day – May 8
Ascension Thursday – Public Holiday.
Pentecost Holidays (start on the Thursday through Monday, with the Monday occurring eight weeks after Easter)
Mother’s Day – May 26
Abolition of slavery – Public Holiday

June

Day of Music – June 21
St. Patron’s Day in Baie-Mahault – June 21 (St. Jean Baptiste)
St. Patron’s Day in Moule (St. Jean Baptiste)
St. Patron’s Day in Deshaies (St. Pierre et ST. Paul)
Saint John the Baptist day is celebrated in many places in the predominant Catholic island.

July

Festival Guadeloupe
Forum of Arts, Crafts and Folklore in Sainte Anne Informations
St. Patron’s Day in Pot-Louis (Notre Dame des 7 douleurs) July 4 – 7
Bastille Day – Public Holiday July – 14
Victor Schoelcher Holiday – Public Holiday July 21
St. Patron’s Day in Goyave (Sainte Anne) July 26
St. Patron’s in Sainte Anne (Sainte Anne) July 26
St. Patron’s Day in Capesterre de Marie-Galante (Sainte Anne) July 26
The Guadeloupe Festival is an annual summer event, which begins on July 1 and runs until August 31.

August

Tour of Guadeloupe – International bicycle race
Miss Guadeloupe Beauty Contest
Festival of Traditional Music in Moule
Cooks’ Festival
Assumption Day – Public Holiday – August 15
Fishermen’s’ Days, Marina of Saint Francois – August 15 – 16
Day of the Patron and Fishers’ Day at the Saintes, Terre-de-Haut – August 15
Saint Patron’s Day in Grand Bourg at Marie-Galante
Saint Patron’s Day in Pointe-Noire (Notre dame de Bon Port)
Saint Patron’s Day in Trois-Rivieres
Saint Patron’s Day on Desirade – August 15
Saint Patron’s Day in Petit Bourg – August 15
St. Patron’s Day in Sainte-Rose (Sainte Rose de Lima) – August 23
St. Patron’s Day on Saint Bartholomew – August 24
St. Patron’s Day in Saint-Claude (Saint Augustin) – August 25
St. Patron’s Day in Gosier (Saint Louis) – August 25
St. Patron’s Day in Bouillante (Saint Louis) – August 25
St. Patron’s Day in Saint-Louis at Marie-Galante (Saint Louis) – August 25
Cooks’ Festival at which the women cook, to honour their Saint Lawrence, they bring baskets full of food to the cathedral, then parade through the city. This is followed by a banquet with dance that can be attended.

October

St. Patron’s Days Saint-Francois – October 04
St. Patron’s Day in Basse-Terre, district St. Francois (Saint Francois) – October 4
St. Patron’s Day in Anse Bertrand (Saint Denis) – October 09
St. Patron’s Day in Basse-Terre, district Ste Therese (Ste Therese) – October 15

November

Cockfight season ends
All saints Day, All Souls’ Day, Holidays – November 01 -02
Armistice Day – Public Holiday – November 11
Saint Patron’s Day in Gourbeyre (Saint Charles)
Saint Patron’s Days of Saint-Martin, Grand-Case – November 11
St. Patron’s Days in Pointe-A-Pitre (St. Pierre / St. Paul) – November 11 -18
Day of Music – November 22
Saint Patron’s Day in Morne-a-l’Eau (Saint Andre)

The Day of Music is done to honour the patron of musicians, Saint Caecilia. Concerts are held in the streets and the churches.

December

Feast of Pointe-a-Pitre districts
Santa Claus’ Day in Terre-de-Bas / Les Saintes
Day of women merchants in Abymes (Immaculate Conception) – December 08
Midnight Mass
Traditional Masses for children, who are allowed to brig their Christmas gifts to church
Christmas Day – December 25
New Year’s Eve parties – December 31 – Dining and dancing until New Year’s morning
At the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve there are traditional dishes, which usually comprise of rice and beans, blood sausages and pork Colombo.