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Public holidays are observed in the Republic of North Macedonia for a number of reasons, including religious and national significance. They are generally accompanied by celebrations.[1] The holidays are regulated by the 1998 Law on Holidays.[2] If a national holiday happens to be observed on a Sunday, the next (working) day (Monday) will be non-working.

National holidays

Date English name Macedonian name 2023 date 2024 date Remarks
1 January New Year's Day Нова Година, Nova Godina 2 January 1 January  
7 January Christmas Day (Orthodox) Прв ден Божик, Prv den Božik 7 January 8 January  
April/May Easter Monday (Orthodox) Втор ден Велигден, Vtor den Veligden 17 April[3] 6 May[3] It is always on a Sunday.
1 May Labour Day Ден на трудот, Den na trudot 1 May 1 May
5 May Macedonian Language Day Ден на македонскиот јазик, Den na makedonskiot jazik 5 May 5 May A working holiday since 2019, it marks the day when the government of Yugoslav Macedonia adopted the Macedonian alphabet as the official script of the republic.[4][5]
24 May Saints Cyril and Methodius Day Св. Кирил и Методиј, Ден на сèсловенските просветители; Sv. Kiril i Metodij, Den na sèslovenskite prosvetiteli 24 May 24 May  
2 August Republic Day[6][2] Ден на Републиката, Den na Republikata 2 August 2 August It marks the day of the proclamation of the Ilinden Uprising in 1903, as well as the proclamation of the republic of Macedonia in 1944.
8 September Independence Day[6] Ден на независноста, Den na nezavisnosta 8 September 9 September It marks the day of independence from Yugoslavia, achieved with the 1991 referendum.
11 October Day of the Macedonian Uprising Ден на востанието, Den na vostanieto 11 October 11 October It marks the start of the Macedonian anti-fascist resistance during WWII with an attack in Prilep in 1941.
23 October Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle[2] Ден на македонската револуционерна борба, Den na makedonskata revolucionarna borba 23 October 23 October It marks the day when the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) was established in 1893.
8 December Saint Clement of Ohrid Day[2] Св. Климент Охридски, Sv. Kliment Ohridski 8 December 9 December  
1 Shawwal Eid al-Fitr Рамазан Бајрам, Ramazan Bajram 21 April[3] 10 April[3] Islamic calendar
Girl from Kumanovo is decorating a Christmas tree.

Besides these, there are several major religious & ethnic communities' holidays:

Date English name Macedonian name 2023 date 2024 date Celebrated by
6 January Christmas Eve Бадник, Badnik 6 January 6 January Orthodox Christians
19 January Baptism of Jesus Водици, Vodici 19 January 19 January Orthodox Christians
8 April International Romani Day Меѓународен ден на Ромите, Megjunaroden den na Romite 8 April 8 April Ethnic Romani people
23 May Aromanian National Day[2] Национален ден на Власите, Nacionalen den na Vlasite 23 May 23 May Ethnic Aromanians
28 August Assumption of Mary Успение на Пресвета Богородица, Uspenie na Presveta Bogorodica 28 August 28 August Orthodox Christians
28 September International Bosniaks Day Меѓународен ден на Бошњаците, Megjunaroden den na Boshnjacite 28 September 28 September Ethnic Bosniaks
1 November All Saints' Day Сите Светци, Site Svetci 1 November 1 November Catholics and Protestants
22 November Albanian Alphabet Day[2] Ден на Албанската азбука, Den na Albanskata azbuka 22 November 22 November Ethnic Albanians
21 December Turkish Language Education Day Ден на настава на турски јазик, Den na nastava na turski jazik 21 December 21 December Ethnic Turks
25 December Christmas Божиќ, Božiḱ 25 December 25 December Catholics and Protestants
variable Good Friday Велики Петок, Veliki Petok 14 April 3 May Orthodox Christians
variable Good Friday Велики Петок, Veliki Petok 10 April[3] 1 April[3] Catholics and Protestants
variable Pentecost Духовден, Duhovden 2 June[3] 21 June[3] Orthodox Christians, 7 weeks after Good Friday
10 Tishrei Yom Kippur Јом Кипур, Jom Kipur 25 September[3] 12 October[3] Jews
10 Dhu al-Hijjah Eid al-Adha Курбан Бајрам, Kurban Bajram 28 June[3] 16 June[3] Muslims

See also

References

  1. ^ According to the Law on Holidays, issued in "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia", number 21/98 and 18/07, 2007, see here, retrieved on 17 November 2008. (in Macedonian)
  2. ^ a b c d e f Šari, Ljiljana; Gammelgaard, Karen; Rå Hauge, Kjetil, eds. (2012). Transforming National Holidays: Identity Discourse in the West and South Slavic Countries, 1985-2010. John Benjamins Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 9789027206381.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Holiday Calendar | U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia". U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  4. ^ "5 мај – Ден на македонскиот јазик". Филолошки факултет "Блаже Конески" – Скопје (in Macedonian). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Од 130-тата седница на Владата на РСМ: 5 Мај прогласен за Ден на македонскиот јазик". Влада на Република Северна Македонија (in Macedonian). 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b Victor Roudometof (2002). Collective Memory, National Identity, and Ethnic Conflict: Greece, Bulgaria, and the Macedonian Question. Praeger. p. 11. ISBN 9780275976484.

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