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National Holidays

  • 1 January: New Year's Day
  • 5 March: Uprising Day (against Saddam Hussein’s regime)
  • 11 March: Anniversary of 11 March agreement (1970)
  • 14 March: Birthday of Mustafa Barzani
  • 21-23 March: Nawroz Kurdish New Year
  • 30 March-1 April: Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) *
  • 1 April: Akitto
  • 9 April: Baghdad Liberation Day (fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime)
  • 16 April: Yazidis New Year
  • 1 May: International Labour Day
  • 6-9 June: Eid al-Qurban*
  • 26 June: Muharram (Islamic New Year) *
  • 5 July: Ashura*
  • 14 July: Revolution, 1958
  • 5 September: Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)
  • 25 December: Christmas Day
    * Following the Islamic Calendar, dates are estimated

Key Dates

  • 14 January: Feast of Qawltas
  • 22 January: Establishment of Republic of Mahabad Day
  • 1 February: Erbil Deadly Twin Terrorist attacks
  • 25 February: Turkmen's Journalism Day
  • 1 March: Commemoration of Mustafa Barzani’s Death
  • 7 March: Liberation of Slemani City
  • 8 March: Women's Day
  • 10 March: National Clothing Day
  • 11 March: Liberation of Erbil (Hawler) City
  • 14 March: Liberation of Dohuk City
  • 16 March: Halabja Day, Commemoration of chemical weapons bombardment on the city of Halabja
  • 21 March: Liberation of Kirkuk City
  • 14 April: Commemoration of Anfal Genocide against the Garmians' (Chamchamal and Kalar)
  • 16 April: Commemoration of Chemical attack on Balisan
  • 22 April: Kurdish Journalism Day
  • 24 April: Commemoration of Bombardment of Qaladze
  • 31 July: Commemoration of Anfal Genocide against the Barzanis'
  • 3 August: Commemoration of Yazidis' Genocide
  • 7 August: Commemoration of Assyrian Martyrs
  • 25 August: Commemoration of Anfal Genocide against the Badinans'
  • 17 November: Turkmen's Culture and Language Day
  • 17 December: Kurdistan Flag Day