December 1, "Freedom and Democracy Day", remembers December 1, 1990 and celebrates the ascent of President Idriss Déby to power.
March 8 is celebrated as "International Women's Day"âÂÂLa Journee Internationale de la FemmeâÂÂand marks the culmination of a national week of activities (la Semaine Nationale de la Femme Tchadienne, or "SENAFET") celebrating women. Observations of "huit mars", as it is known locally in French, vary from town to town, ranging from small ceremonies or a day off school for girls only to a week of events that includes races, contests and expositions by womenâÂÂs groups and ends with parades and community-wide celebrations.