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National Holidays

• New Year's Day – 1st January
• Iraqi Army Day – 6th January^{* Not observed in Kurdistan}
• National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence – 6th March
• Persian New Year – Varies each year
• Labour Day – 1st May
• End of Ramadan (3-day holiday) – Varies each year
• Festival of Sacrifice (4-day holiday) – Varies each year
• Republic Day – 14th July
• Islamic New Year – Varies each year
• Ashura – Varies each year
• Iraqi Independence Day – 3rd October
• Victory Day – 10th October
• Christmas Day – 25th December
• New Year’s Eve – 31st December

Religious Holidays and Observances

Islamic Dates and Events

Islamic dates of significance are based on the lunar calendar. Therefore, the following religious dates vary each year.

• Islamic New Year (Eid al-Hijra) – This marks the beginning of a new year, according to the Islamic calendar. The event occurs on the first day of the Islamic month of Muḥarram.
• Day of Ashura – Ashura is recognised for different reasons and is celebrated differently by Shi’a and Sunni Muslims. For Sunnis, it marks the day Musa (also known as Moses) was saved from the Pharaoh. For Shi’ites, it commemorates the death and martyrdom of Imam Hussain (also known as the ‘Martyrdom of Imam Ali’). It is one of the most important days in the Shi’a tradition, reserved for mourning.
• Arba’een – Arba’een is an annual pilgrimage where Shi’a Muslims from around the world travel to the Imam Hussain Shrine in Karbala, Iraq. It occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. Arba’een is particularly significant to Iraqi Shi‘a Muslims, as the pilgrimage occurs in their homeland.
• The Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabiy) – This event commemorates the birthday of the Prophet Muḥammad. Sunnis observe the date on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi‘ al-awwal, while the Shi‘a tradition marks it on the 17th day of this month. Some conservative Muslims do not observe this day.
• Ascension to Heaven (Al-Isra’ wal-�Ѿ�‘r����) – This event marks the night the Prophet Muhammad travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven (�Ѿ�‘r����) and returned to earth.
• Ramadan – Ramadan is considered the most auspicious month for Muslims. It is reserved as a time for prayer, reflection, fasting, and religious devotion. During Ramadan, Muslims fast (ṣa�ɳ�) from food and various activities from sunrise to sunset. Each sunrise, people start the fast with a breakfast meal at dawn (����ḥūr) and finish it at night with dinner (iftar). Many Muslims spend this time reading and reflecting on the Qur’ān. Communal prayers and meals are held frequently in mosques and homes worldwide.
• End of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) – This day marks the end of Ramadan and is usually a time to gather for communal prayers.
• Festival of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) – A four-day Islamic festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to follow God’s command to sacrifice his son.
• Day of the Covenant (Eid al-Ghadeer) – An Islamic festival celebrated by Shi‘a Muslims to commemorate the day the Prophet chose Ali as his successor.

Christian Dates and Events

Iraqi Christian communities may celebrate festivals and holidays on different dates, depending on their church. Chaldeans use the Gregorian calendar, while Assyrians use the Julian calendar.

• Fast of the Ninevites (Ba’uta d-Ninewahye) – A three-day fast celebrated by Assyrians and Chaldeans, during which participants usually abstain from all dairy foods and meat products. In the Syriac Christian tradition, the fast commemorates the three days Jonah spent in the belly of the fish and the repentance of the city of Nineveh.
• Easter – Chaldeans celebrate Easter on the same dates as Roman Catholic Christians. Assyrians celebrate Orthodox Easter, which falls on different dates.
• Christmas – This Christian tradition is gaining popularity in Iraq and may be observed by Muslims in solidarity with Iraqi Christians. Assyrians celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January, while Chaldeans celebrate it on the public holiday of the 25th of December.

Other Important Observances

• Kurdish New Year (Nawroz) – Kurdish celebration of the Persian New Year, signifying the arrival of spring and the new year in Kurdish culture. It is mostly celebrated by Iraqi Kurds. However, some Chaldeans, Assyrians and Yazidis may also celebrate this festival.
• Assyrian New Year (Kha b-Nisan) – Festival on April 1st welcoming the arrival of Spring, celebrated by Chaldeans and Assyrians.
• Yazidi New Year (Charshama Sari Sali) – A Yazidi holiday commemorating the creation of Melek Taus, celebrated on the third Wednesday of April.
• Mandaean New Year (Kansha u-Zahla) – Mandean celebration commemorating the creation of Adam’s creation and the Mandaeans’ migration from Jerusalem to Iraq in the 1st century AD. Mandaeans ritually baptise themselves in a river, then stay at home for 36 hours praying and reciting origin stories.
• Commemoration of Yazidis' Genocide – 3rd August
• Assyrian Martyrs Day – 7th August
• Turkmen's Culture and Language Day – 17th November

Holidays and Observances in Kurdistan

• Establishment of Republic of Mahabad Day – 22nd January
• Uprising Day (against Saddam Hussein’s regime) – 5th March
• Birthday of Mustafa Barzani – 14th March
• Baghdad Liberation Day (fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime) – 9th April
• Al-Anfal Remembrance Day (Commemoration of Anfal Genocide) – 14th April