Public Holiday Calendar Guide for Iran
Iran's public-holiday calendar combines observances based on the Solar Hijri calendar with religious occasions based on the Islamic lunar calendar. National legislation defines the official holidays, while the Labour Law establishes separate protections for workers' weekly rest and recognizes official holidays within employment rules.[1][2] Because the two calendar systems operate differently, anyone planning work, travel, or appointments should use the applicable official Iranian calendar rather than relying on Gregorian dates from an earlier calendar.
How Iran's Holiday Calendar Is Structured
Iran's statutory holiday list combines national observances with numerous Islamic occasions. National holidays include the Nowruz period, Islamic Republic Day, Nature Day and commemorations connected with the revolution, while religious holidays include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Ghadir, Tasua, Ashura, Arbaeen and several anniversaries associated with the Prophet Muhammad and the Shia Imams.[1]
This creates a dual-calendar system. Solar-calendar observances retain their position in the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar, while Islamic religious observances are tied to Hijri lunar months. Their position relative to the Solar Hijri and Gregorian calendars therefore changes from one calendar cycle to another.[1]
Nowruz Creates a Distinct Holiday Period
Nowruz occupies a particularly prominent place in the statutory calendar. The legislation provides for several consecutive official holidays around the beginning of the Iranian new year, followed by Nature Day as another official holiday.[1] This makes the Nowruz period structurally different from most single-day observances.
For practical planning, the extended holiday period can be more consequential than an isolated public holiday. Travelers, businesses and anyone arranging administrative matters should check the operating schedule of the specific organization or service concerned rather than assuming normal availability throughout the period.
Islamic Holidays Move Through the Solar Calendar
Many of Iran's official religious holidays are defined by dates in the Islamic lunar calendar. These include Eid al-Fitr, Tasua, Ashura, Arbaeen, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir, together with commemorations of important figures and events in Shia Islam.[1] Because a lunar year is shorter than a solar year, these observances progressively move relative to the Gregorian and Solar Hijri calendars.
The statutory list gives Eid al-Fitr special treatment by providing two official holiday days for the festival.[1] When precise timing matters, the applicable official calendar should be used rather than copying the Gregorian placement of an Islamic holiday from another calendar cycle.
Friday Is the Weekly Paid Rest Day for Workers
Under Iran's Labour Law, Friday is the normal weekly rest day for workers and is paid.[2] Public services and workplaces whose operational requirements make Friday rest impractical may designate another regular weekly rest day, but every worker must have a specified weekly day of rest.
Workers who work on Friday under these arrangements receive an additional wage supplement because they do not use Friday as their weekly rest day.[2] The law therefore distinguishes the ordinary weekly rest entitlement from the separate calendar of official public holidays.
Official Holidays and Employee Entitlements
The Labour Law expressly recognizes the country's official holidays within the employment framework and additionally treats Labour Day as an official holiday for workers.[2] Official holidays are also kept separate from annual paid leave: other holidays are not deducted from a worker's statutory annual leave entitlement.[2]
Specific wage regulations also protect employees' entitlement to paid holidays. The applicable regulation covers fixed-wage and hourly paid employees and provides additional remuneration for qualifying work performed on Fridays or official holidays.[3] The precise calculation can depend on the worker's pay arrangement and working conditions.
Religious Mourning and Celebration Days
Iran's holiday calendar contains both festivals and mourning observances. Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir are among the major celebratory occasions, while Tasua, Ashura and Arbaeen commemorate events associated with Imam Husayn and Karbala.[1] Other statutory holidays mark the deaths or martyrdoms of major figures in Shia religious tradition.
These distinctions matter culturally even when the legal result is the same public-holiday designation. The atmosphere, public ceremonies and patterns of activity surrounding a mourning observance can differ considerably from those associated with a religious festival, so visitors should consider the character of the occasion as well as its statutory status.
Planning Work and Travel Around Iranian Holidays
For reliable planning, consult the applicable official Iranian calendar and distinguish between the weekly Friday rest day, statutory public holidays and ordinary working days.[1][2] This is especially important for Islamic observances because their placement changes relative to the Gregorian calendar.
Do not assume that public-holiday status means every service will be unavailable. The Labour Law expressly accommodates public services and workplaces whose nature or operational requirements require work to continue.[2] For transport, accommodation, administrative appointments, shopping or business meetings, confirm the schedule of the individual provider or institution.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holidays in Iran
Why do some Iranian public holidays move relative to the Gregorian calendar?
Many religious holidays are defined according to the Islamic lunar calendar, while other Iranian holidays use the Solar Hijri calendar.[1] Lunar observances therefore change position relative to both the Gregorian and Solar Hijri calendars.
Is Friday the weekly day off in Iran?
For workers covered by the Labour Law, Friday is the normal paid weekly rest day.[2] Public services and workplaces that need to operate on Friday may designate another regular weekly rest day, but a specified weekly day of rest remains compulsory.
Is Nowruz an official public holiday period?
Yes. National legislation establishes several consecutive official holidays around Nowruz, making the beginning of the Iranian new year a substantial statutory holiday period.[1]
Is Eid al-Fitr a one-day public holiday in Iran?
No. The statutory national holiday list provides two official holiday days for Eid al-Fitr.[1]
Is Labour Day an official holiday for workers?
Yes. The Labour Law provides that Labour Day is treated as an official holiday for workers in addition to the country's general official holidays.[2]
Do public holidays count against a worker's annual leave?
No. The Labour Law provides that holidays other than the Fridays incorporated into the statutory annual-leave calculation are not counted as part of a worker's annual paid leave.[2]
Sources
- لایحه قانونی تعیین تعطیلات رسمی کشور- نظامات
- Labour Law (Labour Code).- International Labour Organization NATLEX
- Regulation concerning wages for fixed and hourly-paid employees' standards [1991]- International Labour Organization NATLEX