Public holidays in Ethiopia

The following lists are public holidays in Ethiopia. Many holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[1]

National holiday

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Date English name Amharic name Notes
2 March Adwa Victory Day የዓድዋ ድል በዓል Commemorates Ethiopians victory over Italy at Battle of Adwa in 1896.[2]
1 May International Workers' Day ዓለም አቀፍ የሠራተኞች ቀን
5 May Ethiopian Patriots' Victory Day የአርበኞች ቀን Commemorates the 1941 entering of Emperor Haile Selassie into Addis Ababa amidst Second World War, who returned to the throne after 5 years Italian occupation of Ethiopia following Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[3]
28 May[4] Downfall of the Derg ደርግ የወደቀበት ቀን Commemorates the end of the Derg junta in 1991. It is also known as Ginbot 20 (ግንቦት 20).
11 September
(Leap year: 12 September)
Enkutatash እንቁጣጣሽ/የዘመን መለወጫ/አዲስ አመት New Year of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Religious holidays

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Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church holidays

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Orthodox Church calendar date English name Amharic name Oromoo name
7 January Ethiopian Christmas Genna (ልደተ-ለእግዚእነ/ ገና) Ayaana Qillee
19 January
(Leap year: 20 January)
Epiphany Timkat (ብርሐነ ጥምቀት) Ayaana Cuuphaa
Moveable in spring Good Friday Siklet (ስቅለት) Ayyaana Faannoo
Moveable in spring Easter Fasika (ብርሐነ-ትንሣኤ/ፋሲካ) Ayyaana Faasiikaa
27 September
28 September (leap year)
Meskel መስቀል Masqalaa

Islamic holidays

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In addition, the following Muslim holidays, which may take place at any time of the year, are observed as public holidays:

Islamic calendar date English name Amharic name Notes
Moveable Ramadan Ramadaan Ninth month, devoted to fasting
12 Rabi' al-awwal (Sunni)
17 Rabi' al-awwal (Shia)
Mawlid Mawliid Birth of the Prophet
1 Shawwal Eid al-Fitr Iid al-Fitrii Breaking of the Fast
10 Dhu al-Hijjah Eid al-Adha Iid al-Adhaa Feast of the Sacrifice

Holidays under the Derg communist rule (1974–1991)

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Date English name Amharic name Oromo name Notes
12 September Revolution Day የአብዮት ቀን Guyyaa warraaqsa Celebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991 to celebrate the establishment of the Derg. In 1987, the celebrations of the holiday, which included a military parade on Revolution Square attended by multiple figures, also commemorated the establishment of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.[5][6]
26 October Defense Day የመከላከያ ቀን Commemorating the formation of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in 1907
7 November October Revolution Day የጥቅምት አብዮት ቀን Guyyaa warraaqsa Onkolooleessaa Celebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Festivals & Holidays". www.ethioembassy.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Victory of Adwa in Ethiopia in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Patriots' Victory Day in Ethiopia in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Derg Downfall Day in Ethiopia". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  5. ^ "Ethiopia Celebrates 13th Anniversary of Revolution". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  6. ^ "Ethiopian revolution marked". UPI. Retrieved 2021-06-23.