Public holidays in Eritrea
Appearance
There are approximately sixteen nationally recognized public holidays in Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa. The primary national holiday is Independence Day (24/05), Martyrs Day (20/06) and Revolution Day (September 1st - 01/09). Other commemorative public holidays include Fenkil Day -- commemorating the Battle of Massawa (February 10 - 10/02) and Afabet Day -- commemorating the Battle of Afabet (20/03). Additional holidays follow the calendar of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the two holy Eids ( Eid Aladaha and Eid Al-Fitir Muslim holidays are observed as public holidays in Eritrea.
Public holidays
Date | English Name | Tigrinya Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 January | New Year's Day | Amet ሓዲሽ ዓመት | official, according to Gregorian Calendar |
7 January | Orthodox Christmas | Lidet ልደት | observed by adherents of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
19 January | Epiphany | Timket ጥምቀት | observed by adherents of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
variable | Birth of the Prophet | observed by adherents of Sunni Islam | |
10 February | Fenkil Day | Fenkil ፈንቅል | commemoration of Operation Fenkil |
8 March | Women's Day | Maelti Anesti መዓልቲ ኣነስቲ | Coincides with International Women's Day |
variable | Good Friday | Arbi Siklet ዓርቢ ስቅለት | observed by all Christian denominations |
Easter | Fasika ፋሲካ | observed by all Christian denominations | |
1 May | May Day | Coincides with International Workers' Day | |
24 May | Independence Day | Maelti Natsinet መዓልቲ ናጽነት | celebrating independence from Ethiopia in 1991 |
20 June | Martyrs' Day | Maelti Siwuat መዓልቲ ስውኣት | |
variable | Eid al-Fitr | observed by adherents of Sunni Islam | |
1 September | Revolution Day | Bahti Meskerem ባሕቲ መስከረም | commemorating the start of the Eritrean War for Independence and takes place on the anniversary of the first engagement between Eritrean combatants and the Ethiopia sanctioned forces |
variable | Eid al-Adha | observed by adherents of Sunni Islam | |
25 December | Christmas Day | Lidet ልደት | observed by non-Orthodox Christian denominations |