Guide to 2025 Greek Holidays

This guide provides information on key holidays in Greece for 2025, including religious and national observances.

Spring 2025:

• Tsiknopempti (Shrove Thursday): Thursday, February 20, 2025 - The Thursday before Lent, marking the beginning of the Carnival period. Celebrated with barbeques and festivities.
• Carnival (Apokries): Sunday, March 2, 2025 - The culmination of the Carnival season, often featuring parades and costumes.
• Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera): Monday, March 3, 2025 - The first day of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church, marking the beginning of a period of fasting and reflection. Celebrated with picnics and kite flying.
• Annunciation of the Theotokos: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - A significant religious holiday celebrating the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive Jesus.
• Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi): Friday, April 18, 2025 - A solemn religious observance commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Shops close early (1 PM).
• Holy Saturday (Megalo Savvato): Saturday, April 19, 2025 - The day before Easter, marking the transition from mourning to celebration.
• Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Pascha): Sunday, April 20, 2025 - The most important holiday in the Eastern Orthodox Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Easter Monday (Deftera tou Pascha): Monday, April 21, 2025 - The day after Easter, often observed as a continuation of the Easter celebrations.
• Labor Day (Protomagia): Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Celebrates workers' rights and achievements.

Additional Information:

• Other potential holidays: The Greek Ministry of Labor can designate up to five additional national holidays per year.
• Polytechnic Uprising Anniversary (November 17th): Observed as a holiday primarily within educational institutions.
• Traditional/Religious Holidays to be Aware of (exact 2025 dates vary): Epiphany (January 6th), Pentecost/Whit Monday (50 days after Easter).

This guide focuses on 2025. For context, key dates from 2024 (Ochi Day, Christmas) were included in the original text. Contact Greek authorities or consult a reliable online calendar for the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, including regional variations or changes.