Public holidays in Egypt

Holidays in Egypt have many classifications. There are a set of public holidays celebrated by the entire population. There are four Islamic holidays and two Christian holidays.

National holidays

The following holidays are celebrated across the country, with the government offices and ministries closed. These holidays are either national secular holidays or important religious holidays.

Date English Name Description
January 7 Christmas Celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ, according to the Coptic Calendar (29 Koiak)
January 25 National Police Day - 2011 Revolution Day[1] Celebrates the anniversary of Police officers resistance against the British Army in 1952 and the day of the beginning of the Egyptian revolution of 2011
April 25 Sinai Liberation Day Celebrates the final withdrawal of all Israeli military forces from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982.
May 1 Labour Day
July 23 Revolution Day Celebrates the Egyptian Revolution of 1952
October 6 Armed Forces Day Celebrates Egypt's victory in the October War.

Some government-related offices, including most universities, are also closed on the Coptic Orthodox date of Epiphany, 19 January.

Movable holidays

The following days are public holidays but the date on which each occurs varies, according to its corresponding Coptic or Islamic calendar, and thus has no set date. In order in which they occur:

Date English Name Description
April Sham El Nessim (Spring festival) The Monday following Orthodox Easter
1 Muharram Islamic New Year The first day of the year based on the lunar Islamic calendar (1 Muharram)
12 Rabi' al-Awwal Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunni) The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, according to the Sunni account (12 Rabi al-Awwal)
1 - 3 Shawwal Eid al-Fitr Breaking of the fast of Ramadan, for three days (1-3 Shawwal)
10 - 13 Zul-Higga Eid al-Adha End of the Hajj and commemoration of the Sacrifice of Abraham, for four days (10-13 Dhu al-Hijjah)

Other holidays

These holidays are widely celebrated, yet government offices, public institutions and ministries remain open.

Date English Name Description
January 1 New Year's Day The New Year according to the Gregorian calendar
March 3 Sportsmen's day Celebrates all Egypt's sportsmen
March 21 Mother's Day Celebrates all mothers
June 18 Evacuation Day (Eid el-Galaa) Celebrates the final withdrawal of all British forces from Egypt on this date in 1956.
August 15 Flooding of the Nile (Wafaa Elnil) Celebrates the beginning of the Nile floods
October 21 Egyptian Naval Day Celebrates the sinking by the Egyptian Navy of the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967
October 24 Suez Day / Popular Resistance Day Celebrates the resistance of local citizens in Suez during the October War.
December 23 Victory Day Celebrates the ending of the Tripartite Aggression in 1956.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ahram.org.eg/The-First/News/124331.aspx

External links