Public Holidays in Iran

Iran uses three official calendar systems: the Iranian calendar as the main date, the lunar Islamic calendar for religious events, and the Gregorian calendar for international events (like May Day).

The surfeit of public holidays has been a subject of concern for almost 30 years. A substantial number of unofficial holidays are added each year to the national holidays that further aggravate the situation.

Solar Holidays
Date English Name Local Name Remarks
Farvardin 1 Nowrooz عید نوروز Also known as "Nowruz"
Farvardin 2 Nowrooz عید نوروز
Farvardin 3 Nowrooz عید نوروز
Farvardin 4 Nowrooz عید نوروز
Farvardin 12 Islamic Republic Day روز جمهوری اسلامی
Farvardin 13 Nature Day روز طبیعت also known as Sizde-Bedar (سیزده‌بدر)
Khordad 14 Khomeini's death رحلت امام خمینی
Khordad 15 Revolt of Khordad 15 قیام ۱۵ خرداد
Bahman 22 Victory of the Iranian Revolution پیروزی انقلاب
Esfand 29 Nationalization of Oil Industry ملی شدن صنعت نفت
Lunar Holidays
Date English Name Local Name Remarks
Muharram 9 Tasu'a of Imam Hussain تاسوعا
Muharram 10 Ashura of Imam Hussain عاشورا
Safar 20 Arba'een of Imam Hussain اربعین
Safar 28 Demise of prophet Muhammad and Martyrdom of Imam Hassan (Mujtaba) وفات حضرت محمد و شهادت امام حسن مجتبی
Safar 29 Martyrdom of Imam Reza شهادت امام رضا
Rabi'-ul-Awwal 17 Birth of Muhammad and Imam Jafar ولادت حضرت محمد و امام جعفر صادق
Jamaad-ath-Thaanee 3 Martyrdom of Fatima شهادت حضرت فاطمه
Rajab 13 Birth of Imam Ali ولادت حضرت علی
Rajab 27 Mission of Muhammad بعثت حضرت محمد
Sha'aban 15 Birth of Imam Mahdi ولادت حضرت مهدی
Ramadhan 21 Martyrdom of Imam Ali شهادت حضرت علی
Shawwal 1 Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadhan) عید فطر
Shawwal 2 Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadhan) عید فطر
Shawwal 25 Martyrdom of Imam Jafar شهادت امام جعفر صادق
Dh-ul-Hajja 10 Eid ul-Adha (Ghurban) عید قربان
Dh-ul-Hajja 18 Eid al-Ghadeer عید غدیر

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