There are 14 public holidays in Rwanda in 2023, three of which fall on weekends.
New Year's Day
New Year Holiday, celebrated on January 1 and 2, 2023, is the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar, and it is one of the most popular holidays in the world.
National Heroes Day
National Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Rwanda, observed on February 1, 2023. The holiday is to remember those heroes who lost their lives or made outstanding achievements for the country.
Genocide Memorial Day
Genocide Memorial Day is a public holiday in Rwanda on April 7, 2023. The holiday marks the start of the 1994 genocide, which occurred between April 7 and July 15, 1994, about 100 days during the Rwandan Civil War.
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday celebrating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed on Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday, April 7, 2023.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and it is the Monday after Easter Sunday. It is observed on April 10, 2023.
Eid al-Fitr
Muslims worldwide celebrate this religious holiday, celebrating the end of a month of fasting. The holiday falls on the first day of Syawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The holiday falls on April 22, 2023.
Labour Day
Labour Day is observed on May 1, 2023, and it celebrates the achievements of workers. The holiday originates in the eight-hour day movement, which is eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, also known as the festival of sacrifice, is an important Muslim festival. The holiday falls on June 29, 2023, and it honors the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command.
Independence Day
Independence Day is a public holiday in Rwanda on July 1, 2023. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of Rwanda's independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day is a public holiday in Rwanda on July 4, 2023. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took Kigali and the subsequence victory of the Rwanda Civil war, which ended the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Umuganura Day
Umuganura Day, also known as Thanksgiving Day in Rwanda, is a traditional festival celebrating the start of the harvest. The holiday falls on August 4, 2023. Family and friends will gather together and share the harvest, a tradition from over a thousand years ago.
Assumption Day
Assumption Day commemorates the day that the bodily taking up of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, into Heaven. The holiday is observed on August 15, 2023.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25, 2023, and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Christmas Day is a holiday of sharing. People exchange Christmas gifts and cards with families and friends.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen's Day and is widely known as a shopping holiday in some countries. It falls on December 26, 2023.
The following is the list of public holidays in Rwanda 2023.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 01, 2023 | Sunday | Public Holiday |
| New Year's Day Holiday | Jan 02, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| New Year's Day Holiday | Jan 03, 2023 | Tuesday | Observed |
| National Heroes Day | Feb 01, 2023 | Wednesday | Public Holiday |
| Genocide Memorial Day | Apr 07, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| Good Friday | Apr 07, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| Easter Monday | Apr 10, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Eid al-Fitr | Apr 22, 2023 | Saturday | Public Holiday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 29, 2023 | Thursday | Public Holiday |
| Independence Day | Jul 01, 2023 | Saturday | Public Holiday |
| Liberation Day | Jul 04, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
| Umuganura Day | Aug 04, 2023 | Friday | Public Holiday |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2023 | Monday | Public Holiday |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26, 2023 | Tuesday | Public Holiday |
Please also check the working days in Rwanda in 2023.
