Greek Independence Day

March 25 commemorates the beginning of the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and is observed in Cyprus as a public holiday. The date carries particular resonance on an island where Greek language, Orthodox faith and cultural ties with Greece have long shaped public life. It also coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation, so civic memory and religious observance sit closely together.

Schools, municipalities and churches commonly mark the anniversary with ceremonies, flags, speeches and services. The holiday does not erase Cyprus’s own distinct history; rather, it shows how the island’s Greek Cypriot cultural identity has been expressed through a wider Hellenic historical calendar. Practical closures depend on sector and locality.

Greek Independence Day in Cyprus is listed here for the Republic of Cyprus, not for the separate administration in the northern part of the island, which publishes a different calendar. The Republic's public authorities and regulated institutions publish a stable set of general holidays, but private-sector entitlement is not created by one universal rule for every worker: collective agreements, contracts and sector orders can control paid leave and compensation. Official calendars retain holidays on their stated dates when they fall at a weekend; the Central Bank's 2026 notice, for example, simply records the Saturday dates for August 15 and December 26 rather than moving them to Monday.