Ethiopia Public Holidays
Ethiopia Public Holidays
Searching for the national holidays in Ethiopia? All public holidays in Ethiopia are treated like Sundays. This means that most of the Ethiopia employees have a day off and all schools are closed on these office holidays. If you are planning a trip to Ethiopia and want to know what the national and regional holidays are, check the details in the tables below.
Ethiopia is a country rich in culture, history, and religious diversity, which is reflected in its public holidays. These holidays, often religious in nature, play a crucial role in the country’s social, cultural, and spiritual life. Ethiopia follows its own calendar, known as the Ethiopian calendar, which is roughly seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar. Additionally, many holidays in Ethiopia are based on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s liturgical calendar, which has a unique system for calculating religious holidays.
Major Public Holidays in Ethiopia
Ethiopia observes several public holidays each year. These can be classified into national holidays and religious holidays, the latter being predominantly Christian and Islamic.
1. National Holidays
Independence Day (Adwa Victory Day)
According to ehangzhou.org, Independence Day, also known as Adwa Victory Day, is celebrated on March 2nd every year. This day marks Ethiopia’s victory over Italy in the Battle of Adwa in 1896, making it one of the most significant national holidays in Ethiopia.
- Historical significance: The Battle of Adwa is seen as a monumental moment in African history. Ethiopia’s victory ensured that it remained the only African country to successfully resist European colonization during the Scramble for Africa.
- Celebrations: The day is marked by parades, cultural performances, and speeches by government officials across the country, particularly in Addis Ababa and Adwa.
National Patriots’ Victory Day (Yekatit 12)
National Patriots’ Victory Day is celebrated on February 19th to honor those who fought against the Italian occupation during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935-1941).
- Historical context: This holiday commemorates the resistance and sacrifices made by Ethiopian patriots who fought the fascist Italian forces during their five-year occupation.
- Observance: Wreath-laying ceremonies are held, particularly at the Sidist Kilo monument in Addis Ababa, and patriots’ descendants are recognized for their ancestors’ bravery.
Labour Day
Celebrated on May 1st, Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, honors workers’ rights and contributions to the economy. It is a global celebration, observed in Ethiopia alongside many other nations.
- Celebrations: Parades, labor union gatherings, and awareness campaigns are common activities on this day.
Constitution Day
Constitution Day is observed on July 22nd to commemorate the adoption of Ethiopia’s 1994 constitution, which established the federal democratic republic system. This holiday is relatively low-key but carries important political significance.
- Activities: It is often marked by speeches from political figures and discussions on constitutional principles and governance.
2. Religious Holidays
Ethiopia has a rich religious tradition with Christian, Islamic, and other faith-based holidays observed throughout the year. The majority of these holidays are based on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church calendar.
Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Holidays
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)
Genna, or Ethiopian Christmas, is celebrated on January 7th (29th of Tahsas in the Ethiopian calendar).
- Religious significance: This day marks the birth of Jesus Christ, as observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
- Customs and celebrations: Festivities begin with a church service that starts on the evening of January 6th and continues into the early hours of January 7th. Families typically gather for a special meal that includes traditional foods like “doro wat” (spicy chicken stew) and “injera” (Ethiopian flatbread). It is a day for feasting and community gatherings.
- Sports and traditions: A traditional game known as “Genna” (a form of hockey) is often played, particularly in rural areas.
Timkat (Epiphany)
Timkat, celebrated on January 19th (or 20th in a leap year), is one of Ethiopia’s most vibrant and widely observed holidays.
- Religious importance: Timkat commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
- Festivities: The celebration lasts three days and includes a grand procession of tabots (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) from churches to nearby water bodies for the blessing of the water. People gather in large numbers to participate in the ceremonies, singing, dancing, and wearing traditional white clothes.
- Unique rituals: Many believers participate in the symbolic re-baptism by immersing themselves in the holy water.
Fasika (Ethiopian Easter)
Fasika is one of the most important holidays in Ethiopia, celebrated after a 55-day fasting period known as Lent. Ethiopian Easter typically falls in April or May, depending on the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar.
- Significance: Fasika celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Fasting traditions: During Lent, Orthodox Christians abstain from eating meat and animal products, making Fasika a time of feasting and joy after the long period of fasting.
- Celebrations: On the day of Fasika, families attend an early morning church service and then break their fast with special meals that often include “doro wat” and traditional bread called “ambasha.”
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
Meskel is celebrated on September 27th (28th in a leap year) and marks the finding of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified, according to Ethiopian Orthodox belief.
- Religious and cultural importance: This holiday dates back to the 4th century and is celebrated with the lighting of a large bonfire known as Demera, symbolizing the light used by Queen Helena to locate the cross.
- Celebrations: The festival includes processions, the lighting of bonfires, and singing. In Addis Ababa, the event is celebrated on a grand scale in Meskel Square, where thousands of people gather for the ceremonial burning of the Demera.
Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year)
Enkutatash is celebrated on September 11th (or 12th in a leap year) and marks the beginning of the Ethiopian New Year. This holiday coincides with the end of the rainy season and the blooming of the beautiful “Adey Abeba” flower.
- Significance: Enkutatash is a time of renewal and hope, as it marks the start of a new year and the end of the agricultural season.
- Traditions: Families come together for meals, and young girls often go door-to-door singing traditional songs and giving out flowers in exchange for small gifts.
- Religious significance: In addition to its secular aspects, Enkutatash is associated with the Feast of St. John the Baptist.
Buhe
Buhe is a minor holiday celebrated on August 19th, primarily in the northern regions of Ethiopia.
- Customs: Boys sing traditional songs known as Hoya Hoye, going door-to-door in their neighborhoods in exchange for small gifts. Bonfires are also lit as part of the festivities.
- Religious aspect: While it has Christian overtones, Buhe is more of a community-based celebration centered on family and neighborhood unity.
Islamic Holidays
Islam is another significant religion in Ethiopia, and several Islamic holidays are observed as public holidays.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr, known as Arafa in Ethiopia, is celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, marking the conclusion of a month-long fast.
- Significance: This holiday celebrates the breaking of the fast and is a time of joy, prayer, and feasting.
- Customs: Muslims in Ethiopia attend special prayers at mosques and open spaces, exchange gifts, and enjoy meals with family and friends. Charitable giving is an important part of the holiday, with people donating to those in need.
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. This holiday is observed on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar.
- Celebrations: The day begins with prayers, followed by the ritual slaughtering of animals, usually sheep, goats, or cows. The meat is shared with family, friends, and the less fortunate.
- Charity and community: Like Eid al-Fitr, charitable giving is emphasized, and it is common for families to distribute meat to the poor.
Regional and Cultural Holidays
Ethiopia’s ethnic and cultural diversity means that different regions and communities have their own unique festivals and public holidays. Some of these are not nationally recognized but hold great significance within their respective regions.
Irreecha
Irreecha is the annual thanksgiving festival celebrated by the Oromo people, typically in late September or early October.
- Cultural significance: Irreecha marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to thank Waaqa (God) for the blessings of the past year.
- Celebrations: People gather near rivers or lakes to offer prayers and flowers. The most famous Irreecha celebration takes place at Hora Harsadi in Bishoftu, where thousands of Oromos from across the country participate in the rituals.
Ashenda
Ashenda is a festival primarily celebrated by the Tigray and Amhara ethnic groups in northern Ethiopia. It takes place in August, marking the end of a fasting period dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
- Cultural aspects: Ashenda is a women’s festival, where young girls and women dress in beautiful traditional attire, singing and dancing in the streets. The festival lasts several days and highlights women’s strength and beauty.
