Syria’s Transitional Government Approves Amendment to Official Holidays, Excluding National Symbols

The head of Syria’s transitional government, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, issued Decree No. 188 for the year 2025, which defines the list of official holidays and paid leaves for employees in state institutions. The decree sparked extensive debate in popular and political circles after excluding several national and historical occasions.

The new list does not include Martyrs’ Day, Nowruz, and the anniversary of the October War, which carry significant national and cultural symbolism in Syrian memory. Observers see this change as reflecting a shift in the new state’s policies towards reorganizing official symbols and occasions in line with the priorities of the transitional phase. Others believe the decision may cause societal sensitivity due to the connection of these occasions to the country’s history and cultural diversity.

Government sources clarified that the decree aims to unify and organize official holidays to ensure the stability of work in public institutions and the private sector, stressing that omitting some occasions does not diminish their historical importance.

In contrast, a number of activists and intellectuals expressed concern about the impact of the decision on national memory and cultural diversity in Syria, pointing out that preserving shared symbols is a key element in consolidating national identity during the transitional phase.