Public holidays in Colombia are days in which workers are entitled to paid rest to commemorate historical events. While most of these holidays are held on the same date every year, some are moved to a Monday to ensure that their celebration falls on a working day. The Colombian calendar includes a total of 18 public holidays per year, of which 12 are of religious origin and 6 are of civic origin.

Public Holidays in Colombia 2023

This year has 17 public holidays celebrated during the week (Monday-Friday). In total, 13 public holidays will be held on a Monday. The public holiday for the New Year's day, which falls on a Sunday, completes the 18 public holidays of the year.

Public Holidays in Colombia 2024

In 2024, there will be 17 public holidays celebrated during the week (Monday-Friday). In total, 13 public holidays will be held on a Monday. The public holidays on the Colombian Declaration of Independence y the Immaculate Conception , which fall on a weekend, complete the 18 public holidays of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are business days?

Business days are those in which the law does not grant the right to paid rest. In other words, they are all days that are not public holidays or Sundays. According to this, Saturdays are, in principle, considered business days. However, employers can establish them as non-business days for practical purposes.

What are calendar days?

Calendar days refer to the total number of days that elapse from a specific date to another date, including weekends and holidays. Calendar days are all 365 days of the year (366 in a leap year).

How are public holidays determined?

Public holidays in Colombia are defined by law and apply throughout the national territory. The 18 current public holidays are listed in Law 51 of 1983, and their impact on Colombian workers is defined in the Labor Code.

Why do public holidays change their date?

Some public holidays do not have a fixed date each year but are calculated to always fall on a Monday. Hence, when the reference date is not a Monday, the celebration is moved to the following Monday on the calendar.

Are Saturdays and Sundays considered public holidays?

In general, fixed-date holidays do not fall on weekends, but it is possible that they may coincide with a Saturday or Sunday. However, Sundays and holidays share the characteristic of being paid rest days. Employers may also determine that Saturdays are paid rest days.