Public Holidays 2028 Romania – Official Holiday Calendar

Public holidays in Romania are official days off recognised by the Labour Code (Art. 139), on which employees are entitled to a paid day off. These include both fixed-date holidays (such as New Year, National Day or Christmas) and Easter holidays (when Orthodox Easter falls in 2028, Good Friday and Easter Monday). For planning, see also mini-vacations 2028.

When a public holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), under current Romanian legislation, no compensatory day off is granted. This rule applies to all public holidays, regardless of their type. Therefore, strategic leave planning around public holidays can help maximise the available time off.

According to Art. 139 of the Romanian Labour Code (Law 53/2003), employees are entitled to paid days off on public holidays. These days are non-working days for most employees in the public and private sectors. In Romania, there are two main categories of public holidays: those with a fixed date and those with a variable date.

Strategic planning: To maximise your days off, it is recommended to plan your leave around public holidays. Use our mini-vacation calculator to discover the most efficient combinations.

To maximise your days off in 2028, explore mini-vacations 2028 and the Orthodox Easter 2028 period (days off around Easter). By strategically combining public holidays with weekends and a few leave days, you can get longer rest periods without using too many days from your annual allowance.

Each public holiday in Romania has important historical, cultural or religious significance. Understanding their origins and meaning can help you better appreciate the time off.

Fixed-date holidays:These include New Year (1 and 2 January), Unification Day (24 January), Labour Day (1 May), Children's Day (1 June), National Day (1 December) and Christmas (25 and 26 December). These dates remain the same every year, making long-term planning easier.

Variable-date holidays: Orthodox Easter, Good Friday, Easter Monday and Whitsun (Whit Sunday and Whit Monday) are calculated according to the Julian calendar (old style), which is why the dates differ from Catholic Easter, which uses the Gregorian calendar. These holidays shift every year, usually falling between March and May.

Important note: If a public holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), under current Romanian legislation, no compensatory day off is granted. This rule applies to all public holidays, regardless of their type.

New Year (1-2 January): Celebration of the start of the calendar year. The first day is a public holiday, and the second day (2 January) was added recently to extend the holiday period.

Unification Day (24 January): Commemorates the unification of the Romanian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) in 1859, a crucial moment in modern Romanian history.

Labour Day (1 May):International workers' holiday, recognised in many countries. In Romania, it is a public holiday dedicated to recognising the contribution of workers.

Children's Day (1 June):A holiday dedicated to the protection and promotion of children's rights, with origins in the 1920s.

National Day (1 December): Commemorates the Great Union of 1918, when Transylvania, Banat, Crisana and Maramures united with the Kingdom of Romania.

Christmas (25-26 December): Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Gregorian calendar. Both days are public holidays, allowing families to spend time together.

Orthodox Easter:The most important Orthodox Christian holiday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes Good Friday (the day of Jesus's death), Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Dates are calculated according to the Julian calendar and can vary between 4 April and 8 May.

Whitsun (Pentecost): An Orthodox Christian holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. It includes Whit Sunday (50 days after Easter) and Whit Monday. It is an important period in the Orthodox calendar, marking the end of the Easter season.

For official information about public holidays and employee rights, we recommend the following resources:

• Romanian Labour Code (Law 53/2003, Art. 139) — The full text of the law governing public holidays, including Art. 139 which lists all public holidays.
• Official Gazette of Romania — The official publication where all laws and regulations are published, including amendments to the Labour Code.
• Ministry of Labour and Social Protection — The authority that regulates and monitors the application of labour legislation in Romania.
• National Institute of Statistics — Provides official statistics on public holidays and their impact on the economy.

Note: The information on this site is updated periodically to reflect current legislation. For specific legal advice or official interpretations, we recommend consulting a lawyer specialising in labour law or contacting the relevant authorities.