Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day is a notable holiday celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago. This important day is celebrated annually on the 30th of March and commemorates the repeal, in 1951, of the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance, which had banned the practices of the Shouter or Spiritual Baptist faith. It is the only country in the world with a holiday celebrating the Spiritual Baptist faith, which is a synthesis of traditional African religion and Christianity.
The Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day is marked with events such as processions, church services, baptisms and bell ringing, and is characterised by colourful clothing, turban-wearing and jubilant sounds. The day is particularly of significance since the Spiritual Baptist faith, also known as Shouter Baptists due to their lively and spirited worship methods, were ostracized and faced extensive persecution under the British colonial rule. The prohibition period was a dark era in the faith's history when they were not permitted to worship freely.
Presently, the Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day symbolises religious tolerance, freedom, and cultural resilience in Trinidad and Tobago. The holiday reinforces the multifaceted nature of the national society and its diverse cultures, demonstrating an essence of unity within the country. It is a great reminder of the strength of those who fought for religious freedom and a tribute to the diversity of religious practices that enrich the cultural mosaic of Trinidad and Tobago.