Key facts for Senegal
Christmas is a public holiday and respected, but Tabaski is the main gifting festival for most staff.
How companies in Senegal give year-end gifts
Senegal has a large Muslim majority with a Christian minority, and it is known for religious coexistence: Christmas is a public holiday and is often celebrated across communities. For most employees, however, Tabaski is the year's biggest festival, and employers commonly provide bonuses, advances or gifts around it; Korité, at the end of Ramadan, is another key occasion. In Dakar, companies and international organizations send New Year wishes and branded gifts to clients and partners in late December and January. French is the language of business correspondence; Wolof greetings are a friendly touch. Hospitality (teranga) is central to Senegalese culture, and a personal note matters. Gifts for Muslim recipients should be halal-friendly and free of alcohol. Tea is central to Senegalese hospitality, which makes it a fitting gift.
Gift occasions in Senegal
New Year
New Year greetings (voeux) are customary and can be sent through January
Christmas
main year-end occasion for gifts to staff, clients and partners
Korité (Eid al-Fitr)
end of Ramadan; greetings and gifts to staff and partners
Tabaski (Eid al-Adha)
the biggest festival of the year; employers often give staff bonuses or gifts
Good practice
- Write cards in French
- Consider Tabaski as the main occasion for staff gifts
- Lead with New Year or 'Season's Greetings' wording rather than Christmas imagery
- Choose halal-friendly food: no alcohol-filled chocolates or gelatin-based sweets
- Order early: international courier transit plus customs clearance can take one to two weeks or more
Avoid
- Don't include alcohol or pork-derived ingredients
- Don't rely on Santa or nativity imagery for Muslim recipients
Design and wording
Christmas is a public holiday and widely respected, but the large Muslim majority makes 'Season's Greetings' or New Year designs the safer default.
Delivery to Senegal
Ships from Poland by international courier; import duties and local VAT or sales taxes are normally charged on arrival and can be quoted in advance, and customs clearance adds time. Dakar has good courier coverage; customs may request recipient details. December is hot, so chocolate needs heat-protected packaging and fast transit, or non-chocolate items are the safer choice.
Planning dates for Senegal
| Order personalized stock advent calendars by | 6 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Order Christmas hampers by | 13 Nov 2026 |
| Fully custom calendars for 2027 — order between | 01.2027 – 08.2027 |
Indicative planning dates; exact dates are confirmed in your proposal.
Recommended formats for Senegal
Christmas hampers
Corporate Christmas hampers with your logo on the box, ribbon or card, composed to your budget band and delivered to one office or to individual home…
Tea & coffee calendars
A tea or coffee advent calendar with your logo is a measured, practical gift for clients and colleagues who prefer to avoid sweets.
Christmas plush
Plush is made in our own workshop in Biała Podlaska, Poland: ready Christmas teddies with your embroidered logo, and custom plush mascots based on…
Empty calendar boxes
For companies that already have the filling: custom printed advent calendar boxes in bulk, designed around your products and delivered flat or…
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas a public holiday in Senegal?
Yes. 25 Dec is a public holiday, as are 1 Jan and the main Islamic holidays.
Can we send chocolate gifts to Senegal?
Usually yes, as a gift shipment by courier, but import duties and taxes may apply and customs can request product details. Heat is the main risk in December, so we recommend heat-protected packaging or tea and plush alternatives.
When do Senegalese companies give staff gifts?
Most commonly around Tabaski, often as a bonus or gift. Year-end New Year wishes are standard for clients and partners.