National Holidays

The list of national holidays in Belarus is specified by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus “Concerning national holidays, celebrations and observances in the Republic of Belarus.”

The following national holidays are celebrated in the Republic of Belarus:

Constitution Day of the Republic of Belarus	15 March
Belarusian-Russian Peoples’ Unity Day	2 April
Victory Day	9 May
the Day of the National Emblem and the National Flag of the Republic of Belarus	the second Sunday in May
Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus (Republic Day)	3 July

Celebrations:

Nationwide

New Year	1, 2 January
Day of the Fatherland’s Defenders and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus	23 February
Women’s Day	8 March
Labor Day	1 May
October Revolution Day	7 November

Religious

Christmas (Orthodox)	7 January
Easter	in accordance with the calendars of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church
Radunitsa	in accordance with the calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church
All Souls’ Day	2 November
Christmas (Catholic)	25 December

The following days are public holidays:

1, 2 January	New Year
7 January	Christmas (Orthodox)
8 March	Women’s Day
in accordance with the calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church	Radunitsa
1 May	Labor Day
9 May	Victory Day
3 July	Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus (Republic Day)
7 November	October Revolution Day
25 December	Christmas (Catholic)

The decision to institute national holidays and other holidays, give the status of a national holiday to various events is made by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

A proposal is submitted to the President of the Republic of Belarus in a manner prescribed for submission of draft acts of the President of the Republic of Belarus. The draft is accompanied by a reasoned justification for its adoption.

On national holidays and nationwide celebrations the National Flag of the Republic of Belarus shall be hoisted in accordance with the state legislation.

Various celebration events, military parades, fireworks on occasion of these holidays shall be held in line with the legislation.

Days dedicated to prominent events, traditional dates, celebrations in honor of workers of various professions, industries, and so on are public holidays if instituted so by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Dates which do not have indications of national holidays or other holidays are memorable dates if they are connected with certain historical events important for the state or the society, or if they are celebrated by certain categories of people.

Holidays established by acts of international organizations or other international legal documents may be also celebrated in the Republic of Belarus.