Our Lady of the Assumption:
Date: 
Tuesday 15 August, 2023
See also
HERE
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Also known as the Feast of the Assumption it is a recognised public
holiday in Gambia and is also known as Saint Mary (pronounced
locally as Sang Marie).
 This
is a time when all Christian denominations come out in force to
pay homage to Mary, mother of Jesus. It is from this feast that
the Kombo St. Mary Division K.S.M.D. got its name from and the
capital of Banjul is on St. Mary's Island.
Sang Marie became a public holiday in 1958. In 1976 Sang Marie
was removed from the schedule of public holidays but was re-instated
on the 8th August 2007 and has been celebrated ever since.
Church members are expected to attend mass. There is a formal
procession in the streets and a holy admiration of the Blessed
Sacrament. Then follows celebrations, street parades, masquerades,
drumming with food shared locally for all and sundry. Muslims
happily participate in this part of the celebrations and Christian
with Muslim friend often will ask them over for a meal or send
some special foods over to their house. This day is particularly
prevalent in the capital Banjul
as there are a large concentration of Churches, nunneries and
holy orders.
There is indeed a superstition or rather strong belief that it
always rains in the week running up to the holy day as well as
on the day itself and it is seen as a sign from Mary of her appreciation.
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Culture & Traditions National
Holidays Religious
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