As Maldives is a Muslim country, the official holidays are also those celebrated by the Islamic community. The Islamic calendar differs significantly from the Gregorian calendar, so it is difficult to say exactly on which dates certain religious holidays will fall.
But, given the influx of tourists from different parts of the world, they are happy to organize festivities for Christian Christmas, European New Year, Valentine's Day and even Irish St. Patrick's Day. However, these festivities are not official and are not celebrated nationwide.
The following are recognized as holidays in the Maldives:
January 1 New Year's Day.
Mulood is the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, which is celebrated around mid-April for three days.
July 26-27 is Independence Day.
September 1 is Khurawi Day.
Eid al Kebid is the Day of Sacrifice, which falls around the end of September.
Ramadan - starts around the end of September and lasts for 28 days.
Eid al Fitr is a festival marking the end of Ramadan.
October 28 is Martyrs' Day.
November 3-6 Victory Day (the overthrow of the country's president by Lankan mercenaries was prevented).
November 9 is Victims' Day in memory of Sultan Ali, who was killed in the Portuguese occupation.
November 11 Republic Day (the day the Maldives was recognized as a republic), the adoption of the third constitution.
December 10 is Fisherman's Day.
December 25 Christmas Day.
The country's weekends are Friday and Saturday.
