Ethiopian Public Holidays

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Complete Ethiopian public holiday calendar with countdown to next holiday, Christian and Islamic holidays, and Ethiopian calendar dates.

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About Ethiopian Public Holidays

Ethiopia observes 13 official public holidays combining national, Christian Orthodox, and Islamic celebrations. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church holidays follow the Ethiopian calendar, which runs 7–8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. Major Christian holidays include Ethiopian Christmas (Gena) on January 7, Ethiopian Epiphany (Timkat) on January 19, and Ethiopian Easter (Fasika) which is moveable. The Victory of Adwa on March 2 commemorates Ethiopia's historic defeat of Italian colonial forces in 1896. Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) falls on September 11 each year (September 12 in Gregorian leap years).

Islamic holidays — Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, and the Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid) — shift each year following the Islamic lunar calendar. All dates shown include both the Ethiopian calendar date and the Gregorian calendar equivalent. Use the category filters to view Christian, Islamic, or national public holidays separately.

Fixed and moving holidays in one place

Ethiopia’s public holidays fall into two groups. The Christian Orthodox feasts — such as Genna (Christmas), Timket (Epiphany), and Meskel — follow the Ethiopian calendar and land on predictable dates each year, while the Islamic holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar and shift earlier by about eleven days annually. This tool brings both together and counts down to whichever holiday comes next.

Each entry shows the date in both the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars, which helps when you are planning around a holiday for work, travel, or a family gathering. Having the moving Islamic dates calculated alongside the fixed Christian ones saves cross-referencing two different calendars by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many official public holidays does Ethiopia have?

Ethiopia has 13 official public holidays, combining national secular holidays, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian celebrations, and Islamic holidays.

Do Islamic holidays fall on fixed dates?

No. Islamic holidays like Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are based on the Islamic lunar calendar, so their Gregorian dates shift by about 11 days each year.

What is Ethiopia's most important national holiday?

Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) and Victory of Adwa (March 2) are among the most nationally significant, celebrating the New Year and Ethiopia's victory over Italian colonialism in 1896.

When is Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)?

Enkutatash (እንቁጣጣሽ) falls on September 11 in most years, and on September 12 the year after a Gregorian leap year.

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