The following are public holidays in Ethiopia. Many holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[1]
| Date | English name | Amharic name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 7 (Leap year: January 6) |
Ethiopian Christmas | Genna | |
| January 19 | Epiphany | Timkat | |
| March 2 | Victory at Adwa Day | Commemorates Ethiopia’s victory over Italy in 1896. | |
| moveable in spring | Good Friday | Siklet | |
| moveable in spring | Easter | Fasika | |
| May 1 | Labour Day | ||
| May 5 | Patriots’ Day | Commemorates Ethiopian patriots (Arbegnoch)who resisted Italian invasion and occupation from 1936-1941. Official name is Arbegnoch Qen. (Patriots’ Day) | |
| May 28 | Derg Downfall Day (National Day) |
Commemorates the end of the Derg junta in 1991. Although this day is Ethiopia’s National Day, its official name is Derg Downfall Day. | |
| September 11 (Leap year: September 12) |
New Year’s Day | Enkutatash | |
| September 27 (Leap year: September 28) |
Finding of the True Cross | Meskel |
In addition, the following Muslim holidays, which may take place at any time of the year, are observed as public holidays:
| Date | Arabic name | Amharic name |
|---|---|---|
| moveable | Ramadan | |
| moveable | Mawlid | |
| moveable | Eid al-Fitr | |
| moveable | Eid al-Adha |
Ethiopia Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays in Ethiopia
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given below are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last up to several days, depending on the region.
2014
January 07 Ethiopian Christmas Day Start date: 7 January 2014
January 13
Milad un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad)
Start date:
13 January 2014
Celebrated 5 days later for Shi’a.
January
19
Timkat (Epiphany)
Start date:
19 January 2014
March
02
Victory of Adowa
Start date:
2 March 2014
April
18
Ethiopian Good Friday
Start date:
18 April 2014
April
20
Ethiopian Easter Sunday
Start date:
20 April 2014
May
01
Labour Day
Start date:
1 May 2014
May
05
Patriots’ Victory Day
Start date:
5 May 2014
May
28
Derg Downfall Day
Start date:
28 May 2014
July
28
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Start date:
28 July 2014
September
11
Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)
Start date:
11 September 2014
September
27
Finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
Start date:
27 September 2014
October
04
Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
Start date:
4 October 2014
January 03 Milad un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad) Start date: 3 January 2015 Celebrated 5 days later for Shi’a.
January 07 Ethiopian Christmas Day Start date: 7 January 2015
January 20 Timkat (Epiphany) Start date: 20 January 2015
March 02 Victory of Adowa Start date: 2 March 2015
April 10 Ethiopian Good Friday Start date:10 April 2015
April 12 Ethiopian Easter Sunday Start date: 12 April 2015
May 01 Labour Day Start date:1 May 2015
May 28 Derg Downfall Day Start date: 28 May 2015
July 18 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) Start date:18 July 2015
September 12 Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) Start date: 12 September 2015
September 23 Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Start date: 23 September 2015
September 28 Finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
Start date: 28 September 2015