Indonesia is a diverse country with a rich cultural heritage. In 2025, Indonesians will celebrate various public holidays. It reflects the nation’s religious and historical traditions. From the joyous Eid al-Fitr to the solemn Good Friday, these holidays bring people together.
Major cultural events, such as the Chinese New Year, Buddha Day, and Independence Day, allow Indonesians to honor their ancestry and patriotism. Other holidays, like Labor Day and Pancasila Day, promote essential values.
This blog will provide an overview of the key public holidays in Indonesia in 2025, their significance, meanings, and how they are celebrated.
Also Read: Public Holidays In India In 2025 |
Public Holidays In Indonesia In 2025
In 2025, Indonesia will have 16 public holidays, four of which will fall on weekends. Below is a list for everyone to know about the public holidays in Indonesia in 2025.
Holiday | Date | Weekday |
New Year’s Day | Jan 01, 2025 | Wednesday |
Isra and Mi’raj | Jan 27, 2025 | Monday |
Chinese New Year | Jan 29, 2025 | Wednesday |
Nyepi | Mar 29, 2025 | Saturday |
Eid al-Fitr | Mar 31, 2025 | Monday |
Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Apr 01, 2025 | Tuesday |
Good Friday | Apr 18, 2025 | Friday |
Labor Day | May 01, 2025 | Thursday |
Buddha Day | May 12, 2025 | Monday |
Ascension Day | May 29, 2025 | Thursday |
Pancasila Day | Jun 01, 2025 | Sunday |
Eid al-Adha | Jun 07, 2025 | Saturday |
Islamic New Year | Jun 26, 2025 | Thursday |
Independence Day | Aug 17, 2025 | Sunday |
Prophet’s Birthday | Sep 05, 2025 | Friday |
Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2025 | Thursday |
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is the first day of the new year. It is a time for being happy, thinking about the past year, and making plans for the next year. Many people in Indonesia decorate their homes, eat good food with family and friends, and do special traditions.
Popular activities include lighting fireworks, going to concerts or parties, and traveling to fun places. The holiday is also important for Christian people who go to church to welcome the new year.
Isra and Mi’raj
Isra and Mi’raj is a special day for Muslims. It celebrates when the Prophet Muhammad’s miraculous overnight journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to heaven. For Muslim people in Indonesia, it is a time to think about the Prophet’s life and teachings.
Many go to mosques for special prayers, read from the Quran, and eat meals with friends and family. This day reminds people about the importance of faith, devotion, and growth in Islam.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a very important time for families to come together. Also called Spring Festival, it will be on January 29, 2025. Hundreds of thousands of people who work far away will travel back to their hometowns. They go to meet with their families and friends.
This reunion is the most memorable part of the Chinese New Year. People get to see loved ones they may not see often. They celebrate the new year as a family. Gathering with family is the biggest reason why Chinese New Year matters so much.
Nyepi
Nyepi is a Hindu celebration observed in Bali, Indonesia, marking the Balinese New Year. It is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation meant to promote self-reflection and spiritual renewal.
On this day, Balinese Hindus stay indoors, refrain from work or entertainment, and follow a series of strict rules. The holiday is unique in that all forms of activity, including travel and electricity usage, come to a complete halt on the island of Bali.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is a big Islamic holiday for Muslim people in Indonesia and all over the world. It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. On this happy day, Muslims go to mosques for prayers. They get together with family and friends.
They trade gifts and eat fun meals. It is a time to forgive, feel thankful, and give to others in need. Bright decorations and foods like ketupat and opor ayam are part of how Eid al-Fitr is celebrated in Indonesia.
Good Friday
Good Friday is an essential day for Christian people. It remembers the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In Indonesia, it means a lot to the Christian communities. They have special quiet church services, pray, and think deeply on this day.
Some Indonesian Christians also act out the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. This holiday is a sad time, but it reminds Christians about how sacrifice and being saved are central ideas in their faith.
Labor Day
Labor Day, or May Day, is a national holiday in Indonesia that celebrates the contributions and rights of workers. On this day, rallies, speeches, and cultural events are organized to promote the values of labor unions and worker solidarity.
Many use the holiday as an opportunity to advocate for better working conditions, higher wages, and improved labor laws. It is also a time for families to spend quality time together and participate in leisure activities.
Buddha Day
Buddha Day is also called Waisak or Vesak. It is a big festival for Buddhist people in Indonesia and everywhere. It celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. On this day, Indonesian Buddhists go to religious ceremonies.
They pray and give flowers at temples. They also do kind acts and give to others in need. Bright processions, displays of lanterns, and letting birds or animals go free are familiar sights during Buddha Day celebrations.
Ascension Day
Ascension Day is a Christian holiday celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday. It celebrates the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, as defined in the New Testament.
The day holds deep spiritual significance and is observed with church services, prayers, and reflections on the events surrounding Jesus’ departure from Earth.
Some Indonesian churches may hold special processions or reenactments to mark the occasion. The holiday serves as a reminder of Christian beliefs about Jesus’ divine nature and promised return.
Pancasila Day
Pancasila Day is a special holiday in Indonesia. It celebrates the main ideas that Indonesia is built on. The Pancasila principles are:
- Belief in one God
- Being good and civilized
- The unity of Indonesia
- Democracy with wisdom and representation
- Fairness for all Indonesians
On this day, there are ceremonies, parades, and cultural events all over the country. These honor the Pancasila values and bring feelings of national unity and pride. Schools and government offices often have activities to teach people, especially young people, why the Pancasila ideas are essential.
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha is one of the most important days for Muslim people in Indonesia. It is also called the Feast of Sacrifice. It comes after the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It celebrates when the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was willing to sacrifice his son to obey God.
On this day, Indonesian Muslims go to mosques for special prayers. They sacrifice animals like cows, goats, or sheep. They share part of the meat with people who do not have much. It is a time for families to get together, eat good food, and think about being devoted, giving to others, and submitting to God’s will.
Islamic New Year
The Islamic New Year is also called Muharram. It is the start of the new year on the Islamic calendar. While not a big celebration, it is important for Muslim people in Indonesia. Many mosques and Muslim groups have special prayers, talks, or meetings to welcome the new year.
They also consider Islam’s teachings. Some Indonesian Muslims observe this day by giving to others, not eating, or studying religion. It reminds people that the Islamic calendar is meaningful for spiritual practices and cultural traditions.
Independence Day
Independence Day, or Hari Merdeka, is one of the most important national holidays in Indonesia. It commemorates the country’s proclamation of independence from Dutch colonial rule on August 17, 1945. Indonesians celebrate this day with great patriotic fervor, honoring the sacrifices of those who fought for the nation’s freedom.
Parades, flag-raising ceremonies, cultural performances, and speeches by government officials are held across the country. For many Indonesians, Independence Day is a time to reflect on the nation’s history, promote unity, and instill a sense of pride in the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
Prophet’s Birthday
The Prophet’s Birthday is also called Mawlid or Maulid Nabi. It is an Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims in Indonesia and everywhere. It marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, who is the central person in Islam. On this day, Indonesian Muslims go to special prayers and religious meetings.
Speeches are given to remember the Prophet’s life and teachings. Homes and mosques are nicely decorated. Traditional foods and sweets are shared with family and friends. This holiday is very important spiritually and culturally. It reminds Muslims to follow the Prophet’s example of being kind, fair and devoted to God.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is a very important holiday for Christian people in Indonesia. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is very meaningful for their religion and culture. On this day, Indonesian Christians go to special church services. They decorate their homes with lights and Christmas trees.
They trade gifts and get together with family and friends for fun meals. They also sing Christmas songs, display scenes of Jesus’ birth, and do other traditions. In Indonesia, which has many cultures and beliefs, Christmas is a time to share values of peace, joy, and goodwill with all people, no matter their religion.