Confirmed Holidays in April 2024

(SPOT.ph) We know you're always on the lookout for holidays. For most, it's the perfect time to take a break or go on vacation, while some holidays are in observance of important events related to our faith and beliefs. It's important to know if a particular day is a holiday or not, because it spells the difference between extra pay or none at all, avoiding traffic jams and long lines at airports, or just mentally and physically preparing for what a particular holiday entails in your personal life. March caused confusion because of fake news, and it looks like April is causing the same stir.

Also read: Ramadan 2024 in the Philippines: What You Need to Know

Confirmed holidays for April 2024

Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor (April 9)

Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor is celebrated on the second Tuesday of April this year and is considered a regular holiday. The holiday announcement came as early as last year and since it always falls on April 9, you can always count on the date to be a holiday. It gets a little confusing when it falls on a weekend, but it's easier to understand this 2024: there are no work or classes next Tuesday.

Eid al-Fitr (April 10)

We know you're aware April 9 is a holiday, so you're probably here because of Eid al-Fitr, or the end of fasting of Ramadan month (which started in March). It is expected to fall on either Tuesday or Wednesday, with people waiting on the President's office to announce exactly when it will be.

On April 4, the Palace declared April 10 a regular holiday in observance Eid al-Fitr, or the Feast of Ramadan.

Proclamation No. 514 was issued to "bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid'l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness." It will also allow the public to join the Muslim community “in peace and harmony.”

Also read: It’s Official: April 10 Is a Regular Holiday

But why can't Ramadan and all its other important dates just be announced ahead of time? Well, it's because the date and its accompanying events depend on the moon.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar and is considered a sacred time dedicated to dawn-to-dusk fasting. Fasting in this context means abstinence from food, drink, sexual activity, and anything else related to base human desires as part of worship and meditation. Unlike the Gregorian Calendar that starts on January 1 and ends on December 31 all the time, the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, so again, it's really dependent on the moon.

Also read: EXPLAINER: What is Ramadan and Why Does it Require Muslims to Fast?

When is Eid al-Fitr

It's officially on April 10, 2024.

Also read: Here's Why Ramadan Falls on Different Dates Every Year

Is April 10 a holiday?

Short answer: yes, it's considered a regular holiday. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) officially declared the start of Ramadan to be on March 12, based on moonsighting activities, which is done with the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI) and PAGASA. The same commission also forwards official important Ramadan dates to the national administration so an official memorandum can be made.

Is April 8 a holiday?

Another short anser: no. We don't blame people for looking for a long weekend—after all, certain holidays in the middle of the week get moved to Mondays or Fridays for a longer break. But in this case, Eid al-Fitr will be on April 10.

Also read: LIST: 2024 Holidays and Long Weekends in the Philippines