There are approximately sixteen nationally recognized public holidays in Eritrea. The most important national holidays are Independence Day (May 24), Martyrs' Day (June 20), and Revolution Day (September 1). Additional holidays follow the calendar of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the two holy Eids (Eid Aladaha and Eid Al-Fitir), as Muslim holidays are observed as public holidays in Eritrea.
Public holidays
editDate | 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 | |
8 March | Women's Day | Maelti Anesti መዓልቲ ኣነስቲ | Coincides with International Women's Day[1] |
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 | remembrance for those who gave their lives during the country’s struggle for independence during Eritrean War for Independence |
variable | Eid al-Fitr | observed by adherents of Sunni Islam | |
1 September | Revolution Day | Bahti Meskerem ባሕቲ መስከረም | commemorating the start (1961) 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 Christian denominations |
References
edit- ^ "Women's Day in Eritrea in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.