New Year’s Day in Eritrea
New Year’s Day falls on 1 January in Eritrea’s Gregorian calendar and is a public holiday. Eritrean Ministry of Information reporting describes family gatherings, coffee, and social outings, while the country also marks a separate traditional New Year in September.[1][3]
A January holiday in a country with two New Years
January 1 marks the Gregorian calendar’s New Year. Eritrea’s Ministry of Information has described it as the New Year celebrated in January “with the rest of the world.” The same article distinguishes it from Kidus Yohannes, or Geez New Year, which falls in September according to the traditional calendar discussed there.[1][3]
The September celebration has its own religious and seasonal associations. A Ministry article describes it as connected with the end of the rainy season and the start of harvest in rural areas. Those details refer to Geez New Year, not to January 1.[3]
How people mark January 1
A Ministry of Information account of January 1 describes friends, colleagues, and families making plans to celebrate, exchanging New Year wishes, and gathering for special dinners. It also reports coffee ceremonies at home, with coffee served alongside incense, popcorn, and sweets.[1]
The same account describes urban social outings to bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and snack bars, as well as trips from Asmara toward Massawa and the Red Sea coast. It notes that celebrations can differ in the countryside. These are reported examples, not a rule that every household or region observes the day in the same way.[1]
Holiday status and practical planning
Eritrea’s Labour Proclamation says public holidays recognized by law are paid holidays. It also says an employee who works on a public holiday must be paid two and a half times the regular hourly rate for each hour worked. The law sets this general employment treatment; it does not list January 1 by name.[2]
People take time off and some institutions close for year-end auditing. Check locally before making plans.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When is New Year’s Day in Eritrea?
It falls on January 1, the Gregorian calendar’s New Year.[1]
Is January 1 a public holiday?
Yes. It is a public holiday. Eritrea’s Labour Proclamation says recognized public holidays are paid holidays for employees.[2]
Do Eritreans also celebrate New Year in September?
Yes. The Ministry of Information identifies a separate Geez New Year, also called Kidus Yohannes, in September; it has distinct traditional and religious associations.[3]
What is open on January 1?
The Ministry report describes social venues as popular. Check with individual services before travelling.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Eritrea:
- A Fresh Start – The New Year- Eritrea Ministry of Information
- The Labour Proclamation of Eritrea No 118 of 2001- Government of the State of Eritrea; document hosted by the World Health Organization
- Celebrating Eritrean Second New Year- Eritrea Ministry of Information