Public holidays are celebrated according to Ethiopia’s very own calendar based on (but not the same as) the Julian calendar. It consists of 12 months of 30 days and 1 month of 5 days (6 days in a leap year). New Year is celebrated on September 11th (12th in a leap year) and the calendar is between 7 and 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. September 12th 2027 is the start Ethiopian year 2020, a leap year. Some confusion might occur up to February 29th 2028 as the dates according to the Ethiopian calendar are one day off to the Gregorian calendar, ie Meskel on September 28th and Timket on January 20th. To add to the confusion, Genna (Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas) is always celebrated on January 7th, except in Lalibela where it is January 8th in a leap year.
Public Holidays 2025
- January 7: Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
- January 19: Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket)
- March 2: Victory of Adwa
- March 30: Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan) *
- April 18: Ethiopian Good Friday *
- April 20: Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) *
- May 1: International Labour Day
- May 5: Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day
- May 28: Downfall of the Derg Regime
- June 6: Eid al Adha (Sacrifice) *
- September 4: Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (Mauwlid) *
- September 12: Ethiopian New Year
- September 27: The finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
Public Holidays 2026
- January 7: Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
- January 19: Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket)
- March 2: Victory of Adwa
- March 20: Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan) *
- April 10: Ethiopian Good Friday *
- April 12: Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) *
- May 1: International Labour Day
- May 5: Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day
- May 28: Downfall of the Derg Regime
- May 27: Eid al Adha (Sacrifice) *
- August 25: Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (Mauwlid) *
- September 11: Ethiopian New Year
- September 27: The finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
* movable holidays