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The following lists are publicholidays inEthiopia. Many holidays follow theEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[1]
| Date | English name | Amharic name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 March | Adwa Victory Day | የዓድዋ ድል በዓል | Commemorates Ethiopians victory over Italy atBattle of Adwa in 1896.[2] |
| 1 May | International Workers' Day | ዓለም አቀፍ የሠራተኞች ቀን | |
| 5 May | Ethiopian Patriots' Victory Day | የአርበኞች ቀን | Commemorates the 1941 entering of EmperorHaile Selassie intoAddis Ababa amidstSecond World War, who returned to the throne after 5 yearsItalian occupation of Ethiopia followingSecond Italo-Ethiopian War.[3] |
| 28 May[4] | Downfall of the Derg | ደርግ የወደቀበት ቀን | Commemorates the end of theDerg junta in 1991. It is also known as Ginbot 20 (ግንቦት 20). |
| 11 September (Leap year: 12 September) | Enkutatash | እንቁጣጣሽ/የዘመን መለወጫ/አዲስ አመት | New Year of Ethiopia and Eritrea |
| Orthodox Church calendar date | English name | Amharic name | Oromoo name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Ethiopian Christmas | Genna (ልደተ-ለእግዚእነ/ ገና) | Ayaana Qillee |
| 19 January (Leap year: 20 January) | Epiphany | Timkat (ብርሃነ ጥምቀት) | Ayaana Cuuphaa |
| Moveable inspring | Good Friday | Siklet (ስቅለት) | Ayyaana Faannoo |
| Moveable inspring | Easter | Fasika (ብርሃነ-ትንሣኤ/ፋሲካ) | Ayyaana Faasiikaa |
| 27 September 28 September (leap year) | Meskel | መስቀል | Masqalaa |
In addition, the followingMuslim holidays, which may take place at any time of the year, are observed as public holidays:
| Islamic calendar date | English name | Amharic name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moveable | Ramadan | Ramadaan | Ninth month, devoted to fasting |
| 12Rabi' al-awwal (Sunni) 17 Rabi' al-awwal (Shia) | Mawlid | Mawliid | Birth of the Prophet |
| 1Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr | Iid al-Fitrii | Breaking of the Fast |
| 10Dhu al-Hijjah | Eid al-Adha | Iid al-Adhaa | Feast of the Sacrifice |
| Date | English name | Amharic name | Oromo name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September | Revolution Day | የአብዮት ቀን | Guyyaa warraaqsa | Celebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991 to celebrate the establishment of theDerg. In 1987, the celebrations of the holiday, which included amilitary parade onRevolution Square attended by multiple figures, also commemorated the establishment of thePeople's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.[5][6] |
| 26 October | Defense Day | የመከላከያ ቀን | Guyyaa Ittisaa | Commemorating the establishment of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in 1907 |
| 7 November | October Revolution Day | የጥቅምት አብዮት ቀን | Guyyaa warraaqsa Onkolooleessaa | Celebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991. |
