Calendar & Information of all Indonesia Holidays 2022

Overview of Indonesia Holidays 2022

Indonesia's cultural legacy, diversity, and journey towards independence are most evident in its array of holidays. The holidays in Indonesia reflect its unique national identity. The combination of religious, cultural, and patriotic celebrations makes it an interesting destination for your next holiday.

One of the most interesting things about the national holidays in Indonesia is the fact that the country celebrates 4 New Year's Day celebrations - each unique, and each reflective of the culture from which it comes.

Here's a list and brief descriptions of the most important and most widely celebrated holidays in Indonesia. If you plan your Indonesia vacation just right, you might end up experiencing the country in an entirely different but altogether memorable fashion.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: New Year's Day

Date: January 1, 2022

Day of the Week: Saturday

As is the tradition elsewhere in the world, Indonesians welcome the New Year with fireworks, music, and festivities. While the fireworks and musical events are a common denominator, however, different regions put their own unique additions to the revelry.

In Jakarta, for example, one of the highlights of the festivities is the mass wedding held at the City Hall's yard. In Central Java, particularly in the areas of Dieng and Magelang, locals and tourists alike release thousands of floating lanterns into the sky, as a symbol of gratitude for the year that has passed, and hope for the incoming one.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Lunar New Year (Imlek)

Date: February 1, 2022

Day of the Week: Tuesday

Lunar New Year is an important date in the calendar of public holidays in Indonesia. An essential element to welcoming the Lunar New Year is to ward off negative vibes, bad luck, and evil spirits through loud noises and festive music. That is why it is common to see lively performances of the Lion Dance, known locally as the Barongsai.

But the center of Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia is really at home. Chinese families gather together to pay respects to their elders, offer ritual offerings to the gods as well as to their deceased ancestors, and to exchange gifts and well-wishes for each member of the family.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Isra Mi'raj

Date: February 28, 2022

Day of the Week: Monday

Indonesia is the country with the world's largest Muslim population. It comes as no surprise that some of the most widely celebrated public holidays in Indonesia are Islamic holidays, and Isra Mi'raj is one of them.

Isra Mi'raj is the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven. The day has been celebrated in Indonesia for as far back as the 14th century, when the religion of Islam first came to Indonesia. During this period, early Muslims celebrated the religious holiday with public sermons of Muhammad's journey to heaven.

Though different regions have their unique take on the holiday, like gift-giving, sharing food, or hair cutting rituals for infants, the communal recitation of the Prophet's journey remains central to the occasion.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Balinese "Day of Silence" (Nyepi) and the Balinese New Year

Date: March 3, 2022

Day of the Week: Thursday

The Balinese New Year is the third of 4 New Year's Day holidays in Indonesia. It follows the Balinese calendar and has deep roots in Hinduism, the most prominent religion on the island of Bali. Although the officially-declared public holiday lists both the Nyepi and the Balinese New Year's Day for the same day, Nyepi is actually the day before New Year's Day. It is known as the "day of silence" as all public and even domestic activities are restricted. This is because Balinese Hindus use this day for quiet and serious self-reflection.

The main restrictions cover almost everything from working to traveling, even eating. Even the lights and fires must be kept at a minimum! The usually busy streets and beaches of Bali are empty, with no cars or foot traffic at all.

Nyepi lasts 24 hours, from 6AM of the first day, until 6AM of the second day, after which, the celebrations of the Balinese New Year officially commence.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Good Friday (Jumat Agung)

Date: April 15, 2022

Day of the Week: Friday

Christians make up 10% of the entire population of the country, which is why Good Friday, known locally as Jumat Agung, is among the public holidays in Indonesia.

Solemn observances take place around the country, including attending Good Friday masses. There are, however, unique regional takes on the event. For example, in the Larantuka region, Good Friday is observed by a parade. Partakers of the parade dress all in black and carry around statues of Jesus and Mary while singing Gregorian songs.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Labor Day

Date: May 1, 2022

Day of the Week: Sunday

Although the holiday has long since been recognized in Indonesia since 1920, international Labor Day has only been formally celebrated for the first time in 2014. Before this, recognitions and celebrations were casual and even prohibited. In recent years, Labor Day became a more public event celebrated with a massive Workers' March, with huge crowds taking to the streets, donning their uniforms, bearing their flags and banners, and advancing the welfare of workers everywhere.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Lebaran

Date: May 2—3, 2022

Day of the Week: Monday—Tuesday

The end of the fasting month of Ramadan known as Eid al-Fitr (locally, Idul Fitri) is a major cause for celebration in predominantly Muslim countries, and Indonesia is no exception. In fact, Indonesians mark the event with 2-day festivities known collectively as lebaran. This is one of the major public holidays in Indonesia, and drives masses of Indonesians to travel en masse to visit relatives and their ancestral homes.

In the week leading up to the lebaran, Indonesian Muslims exchange baskets of special cookies among neighbors and workmates to mark the occasion. Families share a feast that feature various types of dishes, and children typically receive cash gifts from older family members and neighbors. It is also customary to greet one another with an expression of asking for forgiveness from their fellows, marking the cleansing of sins that have taken place during the fasting month.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Ascension Day of Jesus Christ (Kenaikan Isa Almasih)

Date: May 26, 2022

Day of the Week: Thursday

In Indonesia, Christians mark the day with a visit to the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects and offer prayers, before attending mass. In Jakarta, the biggest of these Ascension Day masses is in the Cathedral Church. For the rest of the non-Christian population, the day is a day of rest as schools and workplaces close to mark the occasion.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Pancasila Day

Date: June 1, 2022

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Pancasila Day is one of the more recent additions to the calendar of official holidays in Indonesia, having only been made official in 2016 and first observed a year later. The Pancasila refers to the "state ideology" of Indonesia.

The official holiday serves to remind Indonesian citizens not only of the principles stipulated in the Pancasila, but also in the struggles and sacrifices that led to the country's independence, as well as the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the cause. Pancasila Day celebrations include flag-raising ceremonies, special parades, and the giving of speeches by Indonesian public figures.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Idul Adha

Date: July 9, 2022

Day of the Week: Saturday

Idul Adha (or Eid al-Adha) is one of the most important days of the Islamic calendar, and one of the most important holidays in Indonesia for its Muslim population.

Otherwise known as the "Feast of Sacrifice", Muslims across Indonesia gather to the mosques for mass prayers and hold family get-togethers. The obedience of the Prophet Ibrahim is also reenacted, with the sacrificial slaughtering of livestock (usually cows, goats, or sheep), which are then divided for sharing with family and friends, and for donation to the needy in the community.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Islamic New Year

Date: July 30, 2022

Day of the Week: Saturday

The Islamic New Year is the last of the 4 New Year's Day celebrations in Indonesia. According to the Islamic calendar, this day marks the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from the holy city of Mecca to Medina, and also marks the founding of the religion.

As with most every major celebration, the Islamic New Year celebrations in the country varies from region to region, while sharing the common theme of doing good deeds and offering prayers for peace, protection from evil, and for safety throughout the coming year. Many Muslims also consider this holy day a day of fasting. One of the most notable celebrations of the Islamic New Year take place in the region of Yogyakarta, where local Muslims perform a sea offering ritual known as the Upacara Sedekah Laut. During this ritual, the faithful flock to Baron Beach to push fruits, vegetables, and traditional cakes out to sea to pray for the protection of their fisherfolk.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Independence Day

Date: August 17, 2022

Day of the Week: Wednesday

The Independence Day of Indonesia, celebrated on August 17 of every year, marks the country's proclamation of independence. The day is colloquially known as Tujuhbelasan, or "The Seventeenth."

Different locations across the archipelago celebrate the day with elaborate ceremonies and grand festivities, with the televised National Independence Day and National Flag Hoisting Ceremonies live from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, leading the festivities. Homes, schools, and establishments both public and private hoist the national flag not just on the day of Independence, but also for the entire month of August.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

Date: October 8, 2022

Day of the Week: Saturday

In contrast to big, festive celebrations in Indonesia, the birthday of the Prophet is one of solemnity. Most people start this important holiday with a visit to the mosque, to listen to Islamic lectures. In some regions, the day is commemorated with bigger festivities, centered around the concept of sharing meals with family, friends, and neighbors.

Holidays in Indonesia 2022: Christmas Day

Date: December 25, 2022

Day of the Week: Sunday

Christmas is just a big a holiday in Indonesia as it is in many other parts of the world, thanks to its significant Christian population. Much of the festivities of the holiday are typically Westernized, centering mostly on the common elements of the Christmas mass service, dining together at home or at restaurants, and elaborate decors particularly in shopping malls and other public spaces. Fireworks, particularly the loud ones made of bamboo, figure chiefly to mark the festive occasion.