Easter Monday is a significant holiday in Rwanda, coming right after the solemn Christian commemoration of Easter Sunday. This public holiday is part of a four-day weekend, as Good Friday is also observed, which allows the people of Rwanda to fully participate in the festivities. The day underscores the Christian tradition of commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament of the Bible.
In Rwanda, Easter typically involves church services, family gatherings, feasting, and gift-giving. Catholic and Protestant denominations are predominant in the country, making the Easter holiday highly significant. Churches are usually packed with worshippers, and services often include processions, performances, and music. As part of the celebration, families come together to partake in meals featuring traditional Rwandan dishes such as goat kebabs, fish, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, and banana beer.
On Easter Monday, a customary ritual known as 'kwibuka' is practiced. Kwibuka means 'remember' in Kinyarwanda, Rwanda's language. It is a time of reflection, prayer, and learning about the Christian faith and its teachings. This day also often includes community service and acts of kindness as part of the commemoration. Despite the dark history of genocide in the mid-1990s, Easter Monday in Rwanda has become a beacon of hope and resilience, reminding Rwandans of the goal of unity, reconciliation, and shared belief in a peaceful future.