Festivals and Public Holidays in Eritrea 2010

Eritrea bases its national holidays on the Roman calendar. Orthodox events however, are based on the Julian calendar which puts these events approximately one week later than those celebrated under the Roman calendar. Muslim holidays follow a lunar calendar. Therefore the exact dates of each Muslim festivals will change every year.

The national celebrations are planned and managed by the National Holidays Coordinating Committee. Regional festivals and fairs are held throughout the country, organized by municipalities, Zoba administrations, and the Eritrean Tewahedo Church.

Resumé of Holidays and Festivals in Eritrea
*)	New Year	2017	2018	2019	2020
*)	New Year	Jan 01
*)	Leddet (Geez Christmas)	Jan 07
*)	Timket (Epiphany)	Jan 19
	Liberation of Massawa (Operation Fenkil)	Feb 08 - Feb 10
*)	International Women's Day	Mar 08
*)	Good Friday	Apr 04	Mar 30	Apr 19	Apr 10
*)	Tensae (Easter)	Apr 16	Apr 01	Apr 21	Apr 12
*)	International Labor Day	May 01
	Independence Day festivities (one week)	May 14 - May 23
*)	Independence Day	May 24
	Festival of Mariam Dearit (Keren)	May 29
*)	Martyrs' Day	Jun 20
*)	Eid Al Fitr	Jun 26	Jun 15	Jun 05	May 24
	Mariam Debre Sina	Jun 28
	Festival Eritrea Asmara Expo (one week)	July - August
	Debre Bizen Abune Libanos	Aug 11
*)	Start of the Armed Struggle	Sep 01
*)	Eid El Adha	Sep 02	Aug 22	Aug 12	Jul 31
*)	Keddus Yohannes (Geez New Year)	Sep 11
*)	Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)	Sep 27
	Nigdet of Saint Georghis Orthodox Church (Gejeret)	Nov 11
	Nigdet Saint Michaels Orthodox Church (Tseserat)	Nov 21
	Nigdet Enda Mariam Orthodox Cathedral	Nov 30
*)	Mawlid an-Nabī	Dec 01	Nov 21	Nov 10	Oct 29
	Christmas	Dec 25

Every effort has been made to present an accurate list of the main events in Eritrea. We cannot accept any responsibility for any error or omission in the data shown above. Dates may vary, due to leap years and unforeseen circumstances. For up-to-date information, please contact the Tourism Service Center in Asmara..

May 24 Independence Day is the most significant National Holiday in Eritrea. On May 24 1991 EPLF forces entered Asmara, re-claiming independence, after a bitter 30 years war against Ethiopian military occupation.

All but one African nation were being handed their freedom on a golden platter in the mid 1950's and early 1960's. Eritrea and its people were not experiencing that luck at the time. Due to the strategic importance of Eritrea, and United States involvement, the country and its people were handed over to Ethiopia in 1952. Independence was won in a thirty year struggle at an unfathomable price. The word 'independence' therefore has a very special meaning when used in the Eritrean context.

Independence Day is celebrated nationwide in Eritrea, but the most spectacular place to be is in Asmara, where the 1991 victory is celebrated with one week of cultural shows in Cinema Odeon and Bahti Meskerem, carnival on the main streets of Asmara, community feasts, live music on Harnet Avenue, and a colorful celebration at the Asmara Stadium on May 24.

On June 20 Eritreans residing in the country and in the Diaspora are commemorating their martyrs. The brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and comrades who paid the ultimate price, their lives, for Eritrean independence (1961-1991) and the recent war, preserving it (1998-2000). On this day the Eritreans will light candle's for, and visit the graves of 100.000 fighters that did not survive the 30 years armed struggle against Ethiopian occupation, and the recent conflict with Ethiopia.

On September 1 Eritrea celebrates the start of the armed struggle in 1961. A group of eleven Eritreans under the leadership of Hamid Idris Awate attacked police posts in Western Eritrea. Hamid fired the first shot against Ethiopian government forces on 1 September 1961 at Mount Adal.

The annual Festival Eritrea usually starts on the last Friday of July, with a cultural show that is staged at Cinema Odeon. The official opening ceremony takes place at the Expo grounds on Saturday. The Festival Eritrea in Asmara is the cultural event of the year. The festival features cultural performances of Eritrea's nine nationalities, exhibitions of art and handicrafts, models of traditional homes, traditional food and refreshments, rites and ceremonies, and scale models of Eritrean industry and ecosystems. Camels, ponies and antique railway equipment give a tour ride around the Expo grounds. The one week Festival Eritrea is the ideal event for visitors, to have fun and learn about Eritrea, its culture, and the customs of its people.

Mawlid al-Nabi celebrates the birthday of Muhammad. Mawlid means birthday and al-Nabi means prophet. The day is commemorated with recollections of Muhammad's life and significance.

Ramadan, the month of fasting, ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," People dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family. A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Muslims are obligated to share their blessings with orphans, martyr's families and charity.

Eid al-Adha: The celebration concluding the Hajj. Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to obey Allah by sacrificing his only son. Just before Abraham sacrificed his son, Allah replaced Ishmael with a ram, thus sparing his life.

Meskel is an annual religious holiday of the Eritrean Orthodox Church commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Eleni (Saint Helena) in the fourth century. Meskel occurs on 27 September. "Meskel", is Ge'ez for "cross". The priests, wearing colorful robes and umbrellas, perform dances and songs. The Meskel celebration includes the burning of a large bonfire, or Damera, based on the belief that Queen Eleni had a revelation in a dream. She was told that she should make a bonfire, and that the smoke would show her where the true cross was buried. A procession takes place from the Nda Mariam Church to the Bahti Meskeren Square in the morning. When the Damera has collapsed and the fire is extinguished, charcoal from the remains of the fire is collected and used by the faithful to mark their foreheads with the shape of a cross. It is said that direction of the collapse of the Damera indicates the course of future events.

Leddet is the Ge'ez name for Christmas which is marked by special ceremonies. It is celebrated on January 7 preceded by a fast of 40 days.

Timket is the Orthodox Church festival of Epiphany, celebrated on January 19. Timket celebrates the Baptism of Jesus. in the Jordan River. The ceremony includes a colorful procession

Tensae, the Orthodox Easter, is celebrated in spring. It is a movable feast with no fixed data. The celebration of Tensea varies between 4 April and 8 May.

Yearly, many people flock in places like Debre Sina, Debre Bizen, Mariam Dearit, and others to pilgrimage. These festivals are attended by people from many areas. These festivals are celebrated at a national level. There are many of these traditional festivals in Eritrea.