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 Arabic name Description
1 January New Year رأس السنة الميلادية Celebrating the new year
January 7 Christmas عيد الميلاد المجيد Celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ, according to the Coptic Calendar (29 Koiak)
January 25 National Police Day - 2011 Revolution Day[1] عيد الشرطة - عيد ثورة 25 يناير 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 عيد تحرير سيناء Celebrates the final withdrawal of all Israeli military forces from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982.
May 1 Labour Day عيد العمال
June 30 Revolution Day 2013 ذكرى 30 يونيو Celebrates the June 2013 Egyptian protests, which saw Islamist president Mohamed Morsi deposed by the military
July 23 Revolution Day عيد ثورة 23 يوليو Celebrates the Egyptian Revolution of 1952
October 6 Armed Forces Day عيد القوات المسلحة Celebrates Egypt's initial military success 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, either because the date is fixed relative to the lunar Islamic calendar or (in the case of Sham El Nessim) has no fixed date in any calendar. In order in which they occur:

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

References

External links

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