Public holidays in Eritrea

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

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
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

  1. ^ "Women's Day in Eritrea in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.