Public holidays in Iraq explained

This is a list of public holidays in Iraq.^{[1] [2]}

Date	Name	Notes
January 1
January 6
March 21
May 1
July 14
October 3		Iraqi Independence Day. Celebrates the independence of Iraq from the United Kingdom in 1932^[3]
Muharram 1	Islamic New Year
Muharram 10	Ashura
Rabi' al-Awwal 12	The Prophet's Birthday
Shawwal 1	End of Ramadan (3 days)
Dhu al-Hijjah 10	Feast of Sacrifice (4 days)
Dhu al-Hijjah 18	Eid al-Ghadir

Special holidays

Iraq recognizes official religious holidays that apply exclusively to followers of those religions, these holidays include:^[4]

Christianity

• 25 December: Nativity of Jesus
• Easter (2 days)

Judaism

• 15 Nisan: Pesach (2 days)
• 15 Tishrei: Sukkot (2 days)

Sabianism

• 5-6 April: Eid al-Banja
• 7-8 August: Eid al-Kabeer
• 23 November: Eid al-Sagheer
• Eid Wahna Lamafa

Yazidism

• First Wednesday of April
• 18-21 July
• 23-30 September
• First Friday of December

Other important dates

These are working days at the KRG Council of Ministers, and businesses are open. Special events take place around the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to mark these dates.^[5]

• 10 February: Kurdish Authors Union Day
• 18 February: Kurdish Students Union Day
• 1 March: Commemoration of Mustafa Barzani’s Death
• 7 March: Liberation of Slemani City
• 8 March: Women's Day
• 10 March: Kurdish Clothes Day (Iraqi Kurdistan only)
• 13 March: Liberation of Duhok City
• 16 March: Halabja Day
• 20 March: Liberation of Kirkuk City
• 1 April: Assyrian New Year
• 14 April: Commemoration of Anfal genocide against the Kurds
• 16 April: Remembrance of Chemical Attack on Balisan and Sheikh Wasan
• 25 April: Anniversary of First Cabinet of Kurdish Government (1993)
• 13 June: Suleimaniah City Fallen and Martyrs Day
• 11 December: Establishment of Kurdish Women’s Union

Notes and References

1. Web site: Iraqi president signs controversial holiday law . 2024-07-01 . Shafaq News . en.
2. Web site: الرئيس العراقي يقرر إضافة يومين إلى الأعياد الوطنية.. وثيقة . 2024-07-01 . شفق نيوز . ar.
3. Web site: Iraq Public Holidays in 2021 - Calendarific. Calendarific.com. 15 January 2022.
4. Web site: بغداد اليوم تنشر قانون العطل الرسمية في العراق (وثيقة) » وكالة بغداد اليوم الاخبارية . 2024-07-01 . وكالة بغداد اليوم الاخبارية . ar.
5. Web site: National holidays and key dates in the Kurdistan Region’s history. Cabinet.gov.krd. 15 January 2022.