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). The 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 2023 is the start of the Ethiopian year 2016, a leap year. Some confusion might occur up to February 29th 2024 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 2023
- January 7: Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
- January 19: Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket)
- March 2: Victory of Adwa
- April 14: Ethiopian Good Friday *
- April 16: Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) *
- April 21: Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan) *
- May 1: International Labour Day
- May 5: Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day
- May 28: Downfall of the Derg Regime
- June 28: Eid al Adha (Sacrifice) *
- September 12: Ethiopian New Year
- September 27: Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (Mauwlid) *
- September 28: The finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
Public Holidays 2024
- January 7: Ethiopian Christmas (Genna), but January 8 in Lalibela!
- January 20: Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket)
- March 2: Victory of Adwa
- April 10: Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan) *
- May 1: International Labour Day
- May 3: Ethiopian Good Friday *
- May 5: Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) *
- May 5: Ethiopian Patriots’ Victory Day
- May 28: Downfall of the Derg Regime
- June 16: Eid al Adha (Sacrifice) *
- September 11: Ethiopian New Year
- September 15: Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (Mauwlid) *
- September 27: The finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
* movable holidays