The celebrated non-working days designated by the Government of the Republic of Moldova and valid for the whole area of the nation are known as public holidays in the Republic of Moldova. Local holidays are established by autonomous territorial entities Gagauzia and Transnistria, as well as cities, communes, and cantonal administrations. These are not non-working days. In contemporary Moldova, there are… nationally recognized holidays.
Most retail establishments in the Republic of Moldova shut on New Year’s and Independence Day, but are open on all other holidays. Private companies often only celebrate the major holidays (New Year’s Day, Easter and Easter Monday, Victory Day (May 9), Independence Day, Labor Day, Limba Noastra, and Christmas).
Most holidays in the Republic of Moldova commemorate events or individuals from Moldavia’s history, but four are shared with many other countries: Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, Victory Day (May 9) and Labour Day.
The winter holiday season historically lasted from New Year’s Day to Old New Year’s Day. As of 2009, the holiday season officially starts on December 25, which is now a legal holiday in the Republic of Moldova. The holiday season begins considerably earlier, with the formal lighting of the Chisinau municipal Christmas tree around the end of November or the beginning of December, when some residents celebrate the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas.
Summer vacation season traditionally (albeit unofficially) begins in May with celebrations of most significant towns’ anniversaries (Bălţi – 21 May) and concludes in late August with the simultaneous festivities of the Republic of Moldova’s Independence Day and Limba Noastra.
National holidays
These holidays are established by the Government of the Republic of Moldova in line with Moldovan law.
| Date | Official Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | Commemorates the start of the Gregorian calendar year. Counting down to midnight (12:00 AM) on the previous night, New Year’s Eve, is part of the festivities. The traditional start of the Christmas season. |
| January 7–8 | Craciun pe Rit Vechi (Orthodox Christmas) | |
| March 1 | Martisor (first day of spring) | Not a Public Holiday |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day | |
| April/May | Orthodox Easter | |
| April/May | Memorial Day | |
| May 1 | Labour Day (Moldova) | |
| May 9 | Victory and Commemoration Day | |
| June 1 | Children’s Day | Not a Public Holiday |
| August 27 | Independence Day (Moldova) | |
| August 31 | Limba Noastra (National Language Day (Moldova)) | |
| October 14 | Capital’s Day | Each city, commune, and hamlet has its own celebration day, so it’s not only Chisinau that has a public holiday. |
| November 21 | South Capital’s Day Cahul | Public Holiday just for Cahul. |
| December 25 | Craciun pe stil Nou (Western Christmas) |
