Govt releases 2015 public holiday dates

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released the list of Singapore’s public holidays for next year.

They are: New Year’s Day, Jan 1, 2015, a Thursday; Chinese New Year, Feb 19 & 20, 2015, a Thursday and a Friday; Good Friday, Apr 3, 2015; Labour Day, May 1, 2015, a Friday; Vesak Day, June 1, 2015, a Monday; Hari Raya Puasa, Jul 17, 2015, a Friday; National Day, Aug 9, 2015, a Sunday; Hari Raya Haji, Sept 24, 2015, a Thursday; Deepavali, Nov 10, 2015, a Tuesday; Christmas Day, Dec 25, 2015, a Friday.

Because National Day falls on a Sunday, the Monday that follows will be a public holiday, MOM said.

This means that there will be seven long weekends (with holidays either falling on a Friday or Monday) for Singaporeans next year.

MOM also noted that the date for Deepavali for next year is subject to change, and can only be confirmed when the Hindu Almanac is released, likely in the first half of next year.

At the same time, MOM also confirmed that Deepavali this year will fall on Oct 22, a Wednesday, and not Oct 23 as previously predicted. As such, Oct 22 this year will be gazetted as a public holiday.