Holidays

Ramadan 2010

August 11 - September 9, 2010. Ramadan is the ninth month of the year in the Islamic calendar. A fast, held from sunrise to sunset, is carried out through this period. Beginning and ending dates vary depending on country location.

Eid al-Fitr 2010

September 10, 2010; Immediately following Ramadan is the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the fast. This celebration involves big family gatherings and gifts for children.

Id Arafa (Eid al-Adha) 2010

November 16, 2010 - November 17, 2010; Also called Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, this three-day festival concludes the Hajj (annual pilgrimages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) and recalls Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah (God).

Al-Hijra (Muharram) Islamic New Year 2010

December 7, 2010; Al-Hijra is the Islamic New Year, celebrated on the first day of the month of Muharram, the month in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina. The holiday is also called simply Muharram.

Ashura 2010

December 16, 2010 (estimated); the 10th day of Muharram (New Year) in the Islamic calendar, commemorated as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)

September 27, 2010 Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) is a religious holiday that occurs on the same date every year in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox Churches.

Ethiopian New Year

September 11, 2010 Ethiopian New Year.