Public holidays in Syria

Public holidays in Syria consist of a variety of cultural, nationalistic, and religious holidays.

Public holidays in Syria
Observed bySyrians

The primary national holiday in Syria is the Independence Day, celebrated on 17 April of every year, which celebrates the evacuation of the last French troops in Syria, officially ending the French Mandate for Syria.

Other important holidays include the anniversary of the Tishreen Liberation War Day on 6 October, Martyrs' Day on 6 May commemorating the execution of many Syrian nationalists by the Ottomans, and Armed Forces Day on the first of August celebrating the creation of the Syrian Armed Forces.

List of public holidays edit

DateEnglish nameLocal nameRemarks
January 1New Year's Dayعيد راس السنة الميلادية
‘Īd Ra’s as-Sanät al-Mīlādīyä
 
March 8Revolution Dayثورة الثامن من اذار
‘Ṯaurät aṯ-Ṯāmin min Āḏār
 
March 21Mother's Dayعيد الأم
‘Īd al-’Umm
 It also coincides with Nowruz نوروز (Kurdish celebration for spring) - Not an official holiday by the government.
April 17Independence Dayعيد الجلاء
‘Īd al-Ğalā’
Celebrates evacuation of last French troops in 1946
variableGregorian Easterعيد الفصح غريغوري
‘Īd al-Fiṣḥ Ġrīġūrī
According to the Gregorian calendar

(The second Sunday of April)

variableJulian Easterعيد الفصح اليوليوسي
‘Īd al-Fiṣḥ al-Yūliyūsī
According to the Julian calendar

(The third Sunday of April)

May 1Labour Dayعيد العمال
‘Īd al-‘Ummāl
 
May 6Martyrs' Dayعيد الشهداء
‘Īd ašh-Šhuhadā’
Anniversary of execution of Syrian nationalists in Damascus by the Turks
October 6Tishreen Liberation War Dayحرب تشرين التحريرية
Harb Teshreen Al-Tahririyyah
Celebrating Yom Kippur War
December 25Christmas Dayعيد الميلاد المجيد
‘Īd al-Mīlād al-Mağīd
 
Dates following the lunar Islamic calendar
Dhu al-Hijjah 10Eid al-Adhaعيد الأضحى
‘Īd al-’Aḍḥà
 The four days of Eid Al-Adha (ayyam al tashriq) are holidays.
Shawwal 1Eid al-Fitrعيد الفطر
‘Īd al-Fiṭr
 The three days of Eid Al-Fitr are holidays.
Rabi' al-awwal 12Mawlidالمولد النبوي
al-Maulid an-Nabawī
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
Muharram 1Islamic New Yearعيد راس السنة الهجرية
‘Īd Ra’s as-Sanät al-Hījrīyä
National celebration days (non holiday celebrations - previous holidays)
March 1Arabic Language Dayيوم اللغة العربيةyāwm al-lughä al-‘Arabīyä
variableTeacher's Dayعيد المعلم

‘Īd al-Mu‘alem

Only For schools, universities, and academic institutions.

(On the third Thursday of March)

August 1Armed Forces Dayعيد الجيش‘Īd aj-jaiŠhSyrian Arab Army
November 16Corrective Movementالحركة التصحيحيةal-Ḥarakah at-Taṣḥīḥīyahpreviously celebrated

The 1970 coup that led Hafez Al-Assad to presidency and the purging of Ba'ath Party

December 29Tree Dayعيد الشجرة‘Īd ašh-ŠhajaraTo celebrate farmers And Environment

Or The Last Thursday Of the year

See also edit