Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 188 of 2025 on Sunday, and the order eliminated several Baath-era holidays while omitting Newroz from the official calendar. The Syrian Arab News Agency reported the decree canceled observances of the Oct. 6 Tishreen Liberation War anniversary, Martyrs' Day on May 6, and Teachers' Day. Al-Sharaa introduced Liberation Day and Syrian Revolution Day as replacements.
Newroz remains excluded from Syria's national holidays, despite its significance as the Kurdish New Year, which is celebrated on March 21. Syrian security forces killed Kurdish demonstrator Suleiman Muhammad Amin Adi on March 21, 1986, after authorities banned public Newroz celebrations near the Presidential Palace. President Hafez al-Assad declared March 21 as Mother's Day in 1988, but Kurdish organizations viewed the decree as an attempt to erase Newroz's cultural meaning.
The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria restored Mother's Day to May 13 in 2020, and the date matched Syria's original celebration from 1955. The holiday restructuring reflects ongoing tensions over cultural identity and political legitimacy in post-Assad Syria.
Newroz remains excluded from Syria's national holidays, despite its significance as the Kurdish New Year, which is celebrated on March 21. Syrian security forces killed Kurdish demonstrator Suleiman Muhammad Amin Adi on March 21, 1986, after authorities banned public Newroz celebrations near the Presidential Palace. President Hafez al-Assad declared March 21 as Mother's Day in 1988, but Kurdish organizations viewed the decree as an attempt to erase Newroz's cultural meaning.
The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria restored Mother's Day to May 13 in 2020, and the date matched Syria's original celebration from 1955. The holiday restructuring reflects ongoing tensions over cultural identity and political legitimacy in post-Assad Syria.
