This monthly
recap of October 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.
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or monthly email newsletters.
Bhutan Declares November 3 Public Holiday In Thimphu (Source: Kuensel Online-Thimpu) - Summary: The government of Bhutan has declared Monday, November 3, 2003, a one-off public holiday in Bhutan's capital, Thimphu, for all schools, government offices, and institutions, on the occasion of the first Dechenphu lhakhang tshechu. Links: other Bhutan news and updates.
Afghanistan Declares Start Of Ramadan Public Holiday (Source: Xinhuanet-Kabul) - Summary: The government of Afghanistan has declared Monday, October 27, 2003, as the first day of the month of Ramadan, and a nationwide public holiday. Links: other Afghanistan news and updates.
Solomon Islands Cancels October 24 Public Holiday (Source: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire-Honiara) - Summary: Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rojumana, announced today that yesterday's announcement of a public holiday for tomorrow had been reversed, and that Friday would be a normal working day, and declared a National Remembrance Day. Links: full story and other Solomon Islands news and updates.
Solomon Islands Declares October 24 Public Holiday (Source: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire-Honiara) - Summary: The Solomon Islands Government has declared Friday, October 24, 2003, a one-off public holiday to honour the seven members of the Melanesian Brotherhood religious group, recently murdered on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. Links: other Solomon Islands news and updates.
Grenada Announces November 28 Post-Election Public Holiday (Source: Caribbean Media Corporation-St George's) - Summary: Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, has announced a one-off public holiday on Friday, November 28, 2003, the day after the upcoming general elections. Links: full story and other Grenada news and updates.
Philippines Updates Status Of October 31 Public Holiday (Source: Manila Bulletin) - Summary: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) reminded the country of Proclamation No. 374 which makes Friday, October 31, 2003, a one-off public holiday in the Philippines. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.
Thailand Declares 2-Day APEC Bank Holidays (Source: National News Bureau of Thailand-Bangkok) - Summary: Thailand's Cabinet has announced that it had declared the temporary closing of commercial banks on Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, 2003, during the upcoming summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC). Links: full story and other Thailand news and updates.
Ecuador Moves Public Holiday From October 9th To The 10th (Source: El Universo-Guayaquil) - Summary: Despite earlier statements to the contrary, President Lucio Gutiérrez finally relented to the lobbying of the tourism industry and agreed to move the Guayaquil Independence Day public holiday from Thursday, October 9 to Friday, October 10, 2003, to make the public holiday into a long week-end. Links: other Ecuador news and updates.
Azerbaijan Public Holiday On October 15 (Source: BBC Monitoring International Reports) - Summary: The government of Azerbaijan has declared Wednesday, October 15, 2003, as a one-off public holiday on the occasion of the upcoming Presidential Election. Links: full story and other Azerbaijan news and updates.
Antigua and Barbuda Public Holidays Amendments Act 2003 (Source: Antigua and Barbuda Official Gazette) - Summary: The "Public, Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2003" (An Act to amend the Public Holidays Act, Cap. 354) has been gazetted, after passing the House of Representatives and the Senate, last August. Links: full story and other Antigua and Barbuda news and updates.
Bhutan Declares November 3 Public Holiday In Thimphu (Source: Kuensel Online-Thimpu) - Summary: The government of Bhutan has declared Monday, November 3, 2003, a one-off public holiday in Bhutan's capital, Thimphu, for all schools, government offices, and institutions, on the occasion of the first Dechenphu lhakhang tshechu. Links: 
Afghanistan Declares Start Of Ramadan Public Holiday (Source: Xinhuanet-Kabul) - Summary: The government of Afghanistan has declared Monday, October 27, 2003, as the first day of the month of Ramadan, and a nationwide public holiday. Links: 
Solomon Islands Cancels October 24 Public Holiday (Source: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire-Honiara) - Summary: Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rojumana, announced today that yesterday's announcement of a public holiday for tomorrow had been reversed, and that Friday would be a normal working day, and declared a National Remembrance Day. Links: 
Grenada Announces November 28 Post-Election Public Holiday (Source: Caribbean Media Corporation-St George's) - Summary: Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, has announced a one-off public holiday on Friday, November 28, 2003, the day after the upcoming general elections. Links: 
Philippines Updates Status Of October 31 Public Holiday (Source: Manila Bulletin) - Summary: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) reminded the country of Proclamation No. 374 which makes Friday, October 31, 2003, a one-off public holiday in the Philippines. Links: 
Thailand Declares 2-Day APEC Bank Holidays (Source: National News Bureau of Thailand-Bangkok) - Summary: Thailand's Cabinet has announced that it had declared the temporary closing of commercial banks on Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, 2003, during the upcoming summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC). Links: 
Ecuador Moves Public Holiday From October 9th To The 10th (Source: El Universo-Guayaquil) - Summary: Despite earlier statements to the contrary, President Lucio Gutiérrez finally relented to the lobbying of the tourism industry and agreed to move the Guayaquil Independence Day public holiday from Thursday, October 9 to Friday, October 10, 2003, to make the public holiday into a long week-end. Links: 
Azerbaijan Public Holiday On October 15 (Source: BBC Monitoring International Reports) - Summary: The government of Azerbaijan has declared Wednesday, October 15, 2003, as a one-off public holiday on the occasion of the upcoming Presidential Election. Links: 
Antigua and Barbuda Public Holidays Amendments Act 2003 (Source: Antigua and Barbuda Official Gazette) - Summary: The "Public, Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2003" (An Act to amend the Public Holidays Act, Cap. 354) has been gazetted, after passing the House of Representatives and the Senate, last August. Links: