Our Lady of Africa for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Saturday, August 5th. There are until the next observance.

The Day of Our Lady of Africa, also known as “Dia de Nuestra Seora de frica” in Spanish, is observed on August 5 by Christians in the Spanish city of Ceuta, Spain. It is a highly important celebration in Ceuta as well as a public holiday. Every year, a large crowd gathers for a fair that runs from July 5 to August 5. The day and days leading up to it are jam-packed with events. From putting flowers in front of Our Lady of Africa to the procession with the Costaleros, there is something for everyone. This great festival has a lot to offer.

📆 When is Our Lady of Africa?

This year, Our Lady of Africa is on August 5th. It is the 1st Saturday in August; in 2024, it is on Monday.

Countdown to Our Lady of Africa

Did you know: There have been various tensions between Spain and Morocco about Ceuta.

You can also discover all cool things you didn’t know about and facts about August 5, 2023.

📜 History of Our Lady of Africa

The Day of Our Lady of Africa commemorates and honors the Virgin Mary, who is the patron saint of Ceuta. It is a religious holiday that is marked with religious services, especially at the Roman Catholic Church of Santa Maria de Africa, as well as other events all over Ceuta.

Ceuta was taken by the Portuguese, headed by King John I, in August 1415. After conquering it, his son, Henry the Navigator, brought an image of Our Lady of Africa to the city to serve as a guide for the construction of the First Church of Santa Maria de Africa in 1421. Years later, with the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, King Afonso VI of Portugal legally handed Ceuta to King Carlos II of Spain.

The celebration of Our Lady of Africa Day remains highly important, with many Christians flocking to Ceuta’s Plaza de Frica on August 4 to place flowers in front of the statue of Our Lady of Africa or outside the cathedral that houses the monument. On August 5, a procession carrying the statue of Our Lady of Africa is held through Ceuta’s main street, and people toss flowers from balconies onto the statue.

☑️ Our Lady of Africa facts

A part of the European Union
Despite its location in Northern Africa, Ceuta is a European Union member and uses the Euro currency.

Spanish is the official language
Despite the fact that many locals speak Darija Arabic, Spanish is Ceuta’s official language.

Spain in Africa
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on Africa’s north coast.

Things to do on Our Lady of Africa

Visit Ceuta
Visit Ceuta to commemorate the occasion. In this manner, you may see the parade through Ceuta’s streets in real time.

Say a prayer for Ceuta
Say a prayer for Ceuta and yourself to commemorate the occasion. This might include going to church to pray or praying at home.

Spread awareness
Telling people about the day raises awareness. A simple social media message may go a long way.

📅 Our Lady of Africa Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 August 5 Saturday
2024 August 5 Monday
2025 August 5 Tuesday
2026 August 5 Wednesday
2027 August 5 Thursday

You can view all August holidays, including Religious and other Catholic holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Our Lady of Africa. So be sure to check back soon.