What Holidays Do They Celebrate in Iraq?
The Iraqi people, like most in the Middle East, have a very deep sense of tradition when it comes to the holidays they recognize, both as a country, and when it comes to the holidays that are considered religious to the majority of the population of the countries in the Middle East. While the religious holidays celebrated in Iraq can vary depending on the religious leanings of the individudal, the countrymen of Iraq also have what would be considered secular, or non-religious holidays, which they celebrate throughout the country according to the secular calendar.
Secular holidays which they celebrate in Iraq include:
- Labour Day
- National Day
- Republic Day
- Ceasefire Day
Each of these holidays have their own date which is unique to Iraq. On the other hand, the religious holidays that almost everyone in this region of the world recognize are:
- The Islamic New Year
- Eid al-Fitr
- Eid al-Adha
Anyone who travels to Iraq should be aware of the holidays that are observed in Iraq and of how and when these holidays are celebrated and enjoyed throughout the country.
Secular Holidays Celebrated in Iraq
Labour Day
In Iraq, Labour day is observed on the 1st day of May, and is very similar to the Labor Day festivities in the western part of the world.
National Day
National Day is observed as one of the most influential and important of all of the secular holidays in the country of Iraq. This day is observed every year on July 14th to celebrate the nation.
Ceasefire Day
This holiday is celebrated every 8th day of August, and is observed as remembrance of the end of the Iran-Iraq war.
Religious Holidays Celebrated in Iraq
Islamic New Year
This is a religious holiday, of course, but is widely celebrated throughout Iraq due to the large muslim population there. On the first of Muharram, the first month in the Muslim calendar, Muslims participate in the Islamic New Year, when they are able to obtain forgiveness for all of their sins occurring during the previous year. Large meals are made with the intention of sharing the majority of the food prepared with those who may not be able to provide it for themselves.
Eid al-Fitr
This holiday, another religious holiday celebrated widely in Iraq and other Muslim countries, marks the finality of the month of Ramadan, meaning participants no longer need to fast. Eid al-Fitr is observed during the 1st day of Shawwal, which is the 10th month of the year according to the Muslim calendar.
Eid al-Adha
During the 12th month of the Islamic calendar every year the festival of Eid al-Adha is observed on the 10th day. This holiday is a festival commemorating the offering of sacrifice by Abraham (or Ibrahim) to Allah by obeying the command he was given to sacrifice his son, making Abraham a righteous being in God’s eyes based on his obedience.
Holidays and Customs of Iraq
Whatever the time of year you may be deciding to travel, visiting Iraq should prompt you to become familiar with all holidays that Iraq observes, as well as the customs they may abide by while celebrating each holiday.