National Anniversary

April 1 is observed in the Republic of Cyprus as Cyprus National Anniversary, marking the start of the EOKA campaign against British colonial rule in 1955. The armed struggle lasted until 1959 and formed part of the political path that led to the Republic of Cyprus becoming independent in 1960. The anniversary therefore occupies a central place in Greek Cypriot public memory of self-determination.

Commemoration tends to be civic and educational rather than festive. Wreath-laying, school programmes, church services and local ceremonies invite people to remember those who took part and to discuss the island’s difficult twentieth-century history. Because the history is politically sensitive and experienced differently across communities, the date is best understood with attention to its specific official context.

Cyprus National Anniversary 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.