This monthly
recap of April 2003 worldwide public holidays news and updates, covers all the countries
of the world, and is based on our daily review
of hundreds of online newspapers, government sites, and institutional sources,
and over a decade of experience following
worldwide public holidays, to place current events in context, and anticipate on
possible future changes.
Available as
free weekly
or monthly email newsletters.
Paraguay Keeps Labour Day Public Holiday On Fixed Date (Source: Ministerio del Interior) - Summary: The President of Paraguay has issued Decree 20.973/03 by which he announces that he will not move the upcoming May 1st public holiday from Thursday, May 1, 2003, to Monday, May 5, 2003, as the law permits him to do (el Poder Ejecutivo no hará uso de la facultad conferídale). Links: full story and other Paraguay news and updates.
China Cancels Weeklong May Public Holidays (Source: Xinhua News Agency) - Summary: The General Office of China's State Council has announced that it had decided to suspend the May Day, weeklong, Golden Week, public holidays "to reduce the flow of people across large areas so as to prevent the spread of SARS". Links: full story and other China news and updates.
Guyana Assembly To Consider 2 New Public Holidays (Source: Government Information Agency-GINA) - Summary: Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, has announced that during the Seventh Sitting of the Eighth Parliament, starting next week, he would move a motion for the Assembly to establish a Special Select Committee to review Guyana's list of official public holidays. Links: full story and other Guyana news and updates.
Singapore Change of Date for Deepavali in Year 2003 (Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower) - Summary: The Singapore Ministry of Manpower has announced that the upcoming Deepavali would fall on Friday, October 24, 2003. Links: full story and other Singapore news and updates.
Philippines Declares April 19 Public Holiday (Source: DOLE News-Malacañang) - Summary: On April 2, Philippines' President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has signed Proclamation No. 354 declaring April 19, 2003, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, as a special non-working public holiday throughout the country. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
Honduras Amends Public Holidays Legislation (Source: Gaceta Oficial) - Summary: Honduras' President, Ricardo Maduro, has signed into law Decreto 50-2003 which moves fixed date public holidays that fall mid-week to the following Monday. Links: full story and other Honduras news and updates.
Greece Declares Public Holiday For EU Enlargement Ceremony (Source: AP Worldstream) - Summary: Earlier today, Government spokesman Christos Protopapas, announced that Wednesday, April 16, 2003, had been declared a one-off public holiday in Greece. Links: full story and other Greece news and updates.
Paraguay Keeps Labour Day Public Holiday On Fixed Date (Source: Ministerio del Interior) - Summary: The President of Paraguay has issued Decree 20.973/03 by which he announces that he will not move the upcoming May 1st public holiday from Thursday, May 1, 2003, to Monday, May 5, 2003, as the law permits him to do (el Poder Ejecutivo no hará uso de la facultad conferídale). Links: 
China Cancels Weeklong May Public Holidays (Source: Xinhua News Agency) - Summary: The General Office of China's State Council has announced that it had decided to suspend the May Day, weeklong, Golden Week, public holidays "to reduce the flow of people across large areas so as to prevent the spread of SARS". Links: 
Guyana Assembly To Consider 2 New Public Holidays (Source: Government Information Agency-GINA) - Summary: Guyana's Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, has announced that during the Seventh Sitting of the Eighth Parliament, starting next week, he would move a motion for the Assembly to establish a Special Select Committee to review Guyana's list of official public holidays. Links: 
Singapore Change of Date for Deepavali in Year 2003 (Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower) - Summary: The Singapore Ministry of Manpower has announced that the upcoming Deepavali would fall on Friday, October 24, 2003. Links: 
Philippines Declares April 19 Public Holiday (Source: DOLE News-Malacañang) - Summary: On April 2, Philippines' President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has signed Proclamation No. 354 declaring April 19, 2003, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, as a special non-working public holiday throughout the country. Links: 
Honduras Amends Public Holidays Legislation (Source: Gaceta Oficial) - Summary: Honduras' President, Ricardo Maduro, has signed into law Decreto 50-2003 which moves fixed date public holidays that fall mid-week to the following Monday. Links: 
Greece Declares Public Holiday For EU Enlargement Ceremony (Source: AP Worldstream) - Summary: Earlier today, Government spokesman Christos Protopapas, announced that Wednesday, April 16, 2003, had been declared a one-off public holiday in Greece. Links: