Public holidays in Syria
Syrian public holidays
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Public holidays in Syria consist of various cultural, nationalistic, and religious holidays.
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.[1]
In October 2025, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a presidential decree defining the country’s official holidays, removing March 8 Revolution Day, Teachers’ Day, Tishreen Liberation War Day and Martyrs' Day from the list.[2][3] The decree introduces two new official holidays: the anniversary of Syrian Revolution Day on 18 March and Liberation Day on 8 December, which commemorates the fall of the Assad regime.[4] In January 2026, President al-Sharaa issued a further decree establishing Newroz as a public holiday.[5]
Workers covered by the provisions of the Basic Law for State Workers are entitled to a holiday with full pay.[6]
List of public holidays
| Date | English name | Local name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | عيد رأس السنة الميلادية ‘Īd Ra’s as-Sanät al-Mīlādīyä | First day of the year in the Gregorian calendar |
| 18 March | Syrian Revolution Day | عيد الثورة السورية ʿĪd ath-Thawrah as-Sūriyah |
Anniversary of the Syrian Revolution |
| 21 March | Newroz |
عيد النوروز |
Persian New Year (celebrated mostly by Syrian Kurds) |
| 21 March | Mother's Day | عيد الأم ‘Īd al-’Umm | Celebrates honouring mothers (on the same day as Newroz) |
| 17 April | Independence Day | عيد الجلاء ‘Īd al-Ğalā’ | Celebrates evacuation of last French troops in 1946 |
| variable | Gregorian Easter | عيد الفصح غريغوري ‘Īd al-Fiṣḥ Ġrīġūrī | According to the Gregorian calendar (The second Sunday of April) |
| variable | Julian Easter | عيد الفصح اليوليوسي ‘Īd al-Fiṣḥ al-Yūliyūsī | According to the Julian calendar (The third Sunday of April) |
| 1 May | Labour Day | عيد العمال ‘Īd al-‘Ummāl | Celebrate the achievements of workers |
| 8 December | Liberation Day | يوم التحرير Yawm al-Tahrir | Anniversary of the fall of the Assad-led Ba'athist regime |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | عيد الميلاد المجيد ‘Īd al-Mīlād al-Mağīd | Celebrated by Syrian Christians and Alawites |
| Dates following the lunar Islamic calendar | |||
| Dhu al-Hijjah 10 | Eid al-Adha | عيد الأضحى ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥà | The four days of Eid Al-Adha (ayyam al tashriq) are holidays |
| Shawwal 1 | Eid al-Fitr | عيد الفطر ‘Īd al-Fiṭr | The three days of Eid Al-Fitr are holidays |
| Rabi' al-awwal 12 | Mawlid | المولد النبوي al-Maulid an-Nabawī | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday |
| Muharram 1 | Islamic New Year | عيد رأس السنة الهجرية ‘Īd Ra’s as-Sanät al-Hījrīyä | |