Date

English Name

Remarks

Changes due to the Islamic lunar calendar

Ramazan Bayramı – Religious Holiday

2 days

Changes due to the Islamic lunar calendar

Gurban Bayramı/Sacrifice Festival – Religious Holiday

2 days

December 31

International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis

Inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall, the nationalist Popular Front of Azerbaijan called for and lead the removal of borders between Soviet Azerbaijan and Iran on December 31, 1989. This has since been celebrated by Azeris around the world as the International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis.

January 1–2

New Year’s Day

2 days

January 20

Martyrs’ Day

Commemorates Black January (1990) when Soviet troops entered Baku and killed more than 130 civilians. Also victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988) are remembered.

June 15

National Salvation Day

Parliament invited Heydar Aliyev to Baku to lead the country (1993).

June 26

Azerbaijan Armed Forces Day

March 20–26

Novruz Bayrami – Spring Festival

5 days plus two weekends (beginning in 2011)

March 8

International Women’s Day

1 day

May 28

Republic Day

Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (1918).

May 9

Victory Day

In honor of victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany during WWII.

November 9

Flag Day

Commemorates the adoption of the Flag of Azerbaijan on November 9, 1918, which was officially established on November 9, 2009, as the State Flag Day.