Martyrs' Day is a public holiday in Eritrea, and it is observed on June 20 each year. The holiday commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in the Eritrean War of Independence.
Eritrea is a country in Eastern Africa. It became an Italian protectorate in 1889 and an Italian colony in 1897. The British forces defeated the Italian army in 1941 in Eritrea. The territory was under the British military administration temporarily. In 1952, Eritrea became part of Ethiopia's autonomous federal province following the United Nations' decision.
However, there were two different opinions within Eritrea. The Christians supported the union with Ethiopia, while the Muslim League supported the independence. In 1960, the Muslim leaders formed the Eritrean Liberation Front and started the armed struggle for independence on September 1, 1961.
Eritrean Liberation Front was separated, and part of it became the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) in 1972, which soon became the dominant armed group fighting against the Ethiopian government.
The war lasted almost 30 years until May 24, 1991, when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) moved into the capital Asmara. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians died during the war. Martyrs' Day is a holiday to honor those who died for Eritrea's freedom.
The following is the list of Martyrs' Day in Eritrea from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Martyrs' Day | Jun 20, 2022 | Monday |
| Martyrs' Day | Jun 20, 2023 | Tuesday |
| Martyrs' Day | Jun 20, 2024 | Thursday |
| Martyrs' Day | Jun 20, 2025 | Friday |
| Martyrs' Day | Jun 20, 2026 | Saturday |
Please check more public holidays in Eritrea:
