Official Holidays of Georgia

Holidays are an integral part of the culture and history of any country. In Georgia, a country with a rich history and culture, there is no shortage of holidays and festivals. We will tell you about the most interesting and important state and folk holidays in Georgia, about their origins and traditions of celebration, as well as provide information on official non-working days in 2019.

St. George’s Day — November 23

St. George’s Day, called Giorgoba in Georgian, is celebrated every year on November 23 in memory of the torture of the Great Martyr George the Victorious during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. As one of the patron saints of Georgia, St. George is the most revered figure in the country. According to local belief, he was related to St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity. She instructed her descendants to honor the memory of the great martyr who defended all Christians and suffered a terrible death for it. Since those ancient times, many churches in Georgia have been built in his name. In the Middle Ages, 365 chapels dedicated to St. George were erected throughout different parts of Georgia—one for each day of the year.

This holiday is not only one of the important Christian religious celebrations in Georgia, but it is also recognized as a public holiday, which means the whole country has a day off. November 23 is a non-working day in Georgia. Festive church services are held in all the churches of the country, and people celebrate this day with their families, setting abundant tables where wine and toasts flow freely. But the luckiest are those named George: they receive the most attention and gifts in honor of their name day.

Saint George is venerated among Catholics, Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches. According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition, he is depicted in iconographic emblems as a horseman slaying a dragon or serpent. In Georgia, the image of Saint George is imprinted on the national coat of arms. The same motif is widely seen in religious paintings, icons, souvenirs, and trinkets that can be found in almost every Georgian church.

Independence Day of Georgia — May 26

Georgia celebrates Independence Day on May 26 each year. The date is linked to the establishment of the First Georgian Democratic Republic in 1918. In the early 19th century, Georgia became part of the vast Russian Empire. After the 1917 revolution, Georgia became an independent country and declared itself a Democratic Republic on May 26, 1918. In 1921, Georgia became part of the Soviet Socialist Republic. Georgia regained its independence for the second time on April 9, 1991, after the collapse of the USSR. Independence Day is celebrated vividly across the country with military parades, fireworks, concerts, fairs, and official ceremonies.
April 9 and May 26 are public holidays in Georgia.

Mtskhetoba — Svetitskhovloba — October 14

The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Mtskhetoba–Svetitskhovloba, honoring the ancient capital of Georgia and its legendary cathedral, on October 14. The central figure of the holiday is the great Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 4th century during the reign of King Mirian III, the first Christian ruler of Georgia, who embraced Christianity thanks to Saint Nino, the preacher of Christ’s teachings. The site for the cathedral was not chosen by chance. According to legend, on Mount Mtskheta, at the burial place of the Holy Tunic in which Jesus was crucified, a sacred cedar tree grew, exuding myrrh and healing people from illnesses. Among the people, the cedar became known as the “Life-Giving Pillar,” or Svetitskhoveli. King Mirian III decided to build the first Georgian church on the site of the cedar, which was named Svetitskhoveli.

Every year, a solemn service is held in the cathedral with the participation of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. After the liturgy, a mass baptism takes place at the confluence of the Kura (Mtkvari) and Aragvi rivers. On Mtskhetoba, people come from all corners of Georgia. For tourists, it is a great fortune to witness this celebration, as Mtskheta — the ancient capital of Georgia — turns into one big joyful festival, filled with folk dances, performances, competitions, and merriment.

New Year and Christmas – December 31 to January 7

New Year is the most beloved secular holiday in Georgia, celebrated with the cheerfulness and grandeur unique to the Georgian people. Georgians are among the most hospitable nations in the world, and it is easy to see why: on New Year’s Eve, every self-respecting host sets a table that is literally overflowing with various traditional dishes! On the Georgian New Year’s table, you will always find satsivi, khachapuri, lobio, roasted piglet, homemade cheeses, pickles, gozinaki (nuts in honey), and churchkhela. There is a belief that the more sweets there are on the table, the more prosperous the coming year will be.

In Georgia, there are a number of symbols and traditions associated with the New Year. All over the world, it is customary to decorate a fir tree as a symbol of the New Year. Georgia is no exception: Tbilisi is brightly decorated with festive lights, Christmas trees, figures of angels, the Bethlehem star, and palm branches symbolizing peace. However, in Georgia, there has long been an interesting tradition of carving a “chichilaki” from walnut tree branches. Traditionally, “chichilaki” are decorated with dried fruits, nuts, and sweets, and then, at the end of the holidays on January 19, they are burned so that with the ashes and smoke all the hardships and troubles accumulated over the year are driven away.

Another widespread tradition in Georgian families is connected to the very first guest — the “mekvle,” the first person to cross the threshold of a Georgian home. It is believed that this first guest should be a kind and healthy person, preferably a close friend or relative, and the year will then be filled with goodness and prosperity. Today, the “mekvle” is also associated with Father Christmas, who brings gifts to children!

New Year in Georgia is celebrated from December 31 to January 2. The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7, as is customary, for example, in Russia and Armenia. This is a very important and solemn holiday for the country, since Christianity in Georgia is not just a religion, but also a key part of its culture and history. On Christmas Day, festive services are held in churches across the country, and people take to the streets to sing hymns together with priests. These mass processions, called “Alilo,” play a central role in Georgia’s unique celebration of Christmas. Dressed as shepherds, the participants of the procession greet each other and collect donations for charitable causes.

List of Public Holidays and Days Off in Georgia:

  • December 31 – January 2 — New Year

  • January 19 — Epiphany

  • March 3 — Mother’s Day

  • March 8 — International Women’s Day

  • April 9 — Day of National Unity

  • April 16 — Orthodox Easter

  • May 9 — Victory Day

  • May 12 — St. Andrew’s Day

  • May 26 — Independence Day

  • August 28 — Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary

  • October 14 — Svetitskhovloba

  • November 23 — St. George’s Day