Yennayer is a public holiday in Algeria and Morocco on January 12th. It marks the start of the Berber (Amazigh) New Year. 

Algeria

In December 2017, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria announced that Yennayer would henceforth be a paid non-working day across the country on January 12th.

On May 30th 2018, the members of the Council of the Nation (Upper House of Parliament) adopted the bill modifying and complementing the law on public holidays, establishing Yennayer as a paid national holiday.

Morocco

In May 2023, Morocco’s royal palace said the start of the Amazigh New Year will be an official paid holiday much to the delight of Amazigh activists who campaigned for decades for the recognition of their calendar.

The initiative aims to preserve cultural diversity and strengthen the gains made regarding the Moroccan Amazigh identity since the historic speech given by the King in Ajdir in 2001. In this context, the Governing Council adopted two draft decrees setting the list of paid holidays and bank holidays.

For all Moroccans, celebrating the Amazigh New Year as an official paid national holiday, like the first Moharram of the Hegira year and New Year’s Day on the Gregorian calendar, is a source of joy which is an integral part of their pride in their Moroccan identity.