Jordan Travel Guide - Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Jan Islamic New Year.
20 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
25 May Independence Day. 
10 Jun Army Day.
30 Jul Prophet's Ascension. 
1 Sep Ramadan begins. 
1 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
8 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas. 
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
9 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
25 May Independence Day. 
10 Jun Army Day.
20 Jul Prophet's Ascension. 
22 Aug Ramadan begins. 
20 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
27 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
20 Dec Islamic New Year.
25 Dec Christmas. 

(a) Christmas and Easter holidays are only observed by Christian business establishments. (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.