Bahrain observes several public holidays throughout the year. While specific dates may vary slightly from year to year, the following are some of the most important public holidays in Bahrain:
New Year's Day (Ras as-Sanah al-Jadidah): January 1st - Celebrated as the first day of the Gregorian calendar year.
Isra and Mi'raj: The Islamic holiday commemorates the Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad. The date follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so it varies each year.
Eid al-Fitr: Celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It marks the breaking of the fast and is determined by the lunar calendar.
Eid al-Adha: Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, it commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. The date is based on the lunar calendar.
Hijri New Year (Ras as-Sanah al-Hijriyah): The Islamic New Year is celebrated on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Ashura: It falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi): Celebrated on the 12th day of Rabi' al-Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, it marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
National Day (Eid al-Watani): Celebrated on December 16th, Bahrain's National Day marks the anniversary of its full independence from British colonial rule.
Accession Day (Eid al-Taa'ayush): Celebrated on December 17th, this holiday marks the anniversary of the accession of the current ruling monarch, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to the throne.
Please note that Islamic holidays like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and others are determined by the lunar Islamic calendar, so their dates shift each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar.
