The following lists are public holidays in Ethiopia. Many holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[1]
| Date | English name | Amharic name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 March | Adwa Victory Day | የዓድዋ ድል በዓል | Commemorates Ethiopians victory over Italy at Battle 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 Emperor Haile Selassie into Addis Ababa amidst Second World War, who returned to the throne after 5 years Italian occupation of Ethiopia following Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[3] |
| 28 May[4] | Downfall of the Derg | ደርግ የወደቀበት ቀን | Commemorates the end of the Derg 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 |
| 26 October | Defense Day | የመከላከያ ቀን | Commemorating the formation of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in 1907 |
| 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 (ብርሐነ ጥምቀት) | Ayaana Cuuphaa |
| Moveable in spring | Good Friday | Siklet (ስቅለት) | Ayyaana Faannoo |
| Moveable in spring | Easter | Fasika (ብርሐነ-ትንሣኤ/ፋሲካ) | Ayyaana Faasiikaa |
| 27 September 28 September (leap year) |
Meskel | መስቀል | Masqalaa |
In addition, the following Muslim holidays, which may take place at any time of the year, are observed as public holidays:
| Islamic calendar date | English name | Oromo name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moveable | Ramadan | Ramadaan | Ninth month, devoted to fasting |
| 12 Rabi' al-awwal (Sunni) 17 Rabi' al-awwal (Shia) |
Mawlid | Mawliid | Birth of the Prophet |
| 1 Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr | Iid al-Fitrii | Breaking of the Fast |
| 10 Dhu 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 the Derg. In 1987, the celebrations of the holiday, which included a military parade on Revolution Square attended by multiple figures, also commemorated the establishment of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.[5][6] |
| 7 November | October Revolution Day | የጥቅምት አብዮት ቀን | Guyyaa warraaqsa Onkolooleessaa | Celebrated during Communist rule from 1974 to 1991. |