Iraq : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

Muslim, Sufi :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

School holidays : Vacances scolaires : Http://epedu.gov.iq/
https://uobaghdad.edu.iq/
https://www.elwatan140.com/
Official calendar gazetted by the Ministry of Education
Literacy rate: Male 84%-Female 64% [Wikipedia]
Teaching language: Arabic
Schooling is mandatory till age 14
schools close on Friday & Saturday
school uniforms required

We carry confirmed dates till July 2024

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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Secular holiday : Celebrates the day when American forces returned the presidential palace to the Iraqi authorities on Dec. 31, 2008.

School holidays :

Secular holiday : Anniversary of the establishment of the Iraqi army, and founded the first units Iraqi armed forces during the British Mandate of Iraq in 1921, where a regiment Musa al-Kazim, and took command of armed force headquarters in Baghdad, and after the fall of the Iraqi regime in 2003, issued civil administrator for Iraq Paul Bremer’s decision to disband the Iraqi army, was then re-formed in stages.

School holidays :

cards/flowers : Refers to Basil the Great (also known as Basil of Caesarea), Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory of Nazianzus) and John Chrysostom. They were highly influential bishops of the early church who played pivotal roles in shaping Christian theology. Wikipedia

Culture : Celebration declared after the meeting between Pope Francis and the Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Francis’ visit to the highest Shiite cleric had taken place in the southern Iraqi Najaf – a holy city for the Shiites. The 45-minute conversation was about the cooperation between the religious communities. The holiday also paid tribute to the interfaith meeting in the plain of Ur, where the head of the Catholic Church met with representatives of Islam, Christianity and the Yazidis. Jewish representatives did not take part. from 2022

cards/flowers :

Culture : Kurdistan only

cards/flowers : Ruz-e Madar in Arabic

Zoroastrian : Naw Ruz--Zoroastrian New Year and celebration of Righteousness Divine Spirit Asha Vahishta, creator of fire. Feast of Ahura Mazda, Spring Equinox Also spelled Newroz, Nauruz, Nauryz, Noe-Rooz, Nawroz, Norooz, Noruz, Novruz (in Azerbaijan and Turkey), Noh Ruz, Nauroz, Nav-roze, Navroz, Naw-Rúz, Nevruz, Sultan Nevruz, Наврӯз, Navruz, or Nowrouz [Wikipedia]

Catholic : Easter