Public holiday in Romania
Orthodox Pentecost in Romania
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Orthodox Pentecost is a nationwide public holiday in Romania, observed on the Orthodox Church’s feast of Pentecost. It falls on the Sunday and Monday after Easter, with the Monday also treated as a day off across the country.
About Orthodox Pentecost in Romania
In Romania, Orthodox Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit fifty days after Easter and is observed in the Orthodox calendar with a public holiday on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday. Because Romania follows the Orthodox liturgical calendar for this observance, the date moves from year to year. The holiday is nationally relevant both as a church feast and as a statutory day off, giving many people a long weekend around the end of the Easter season.
History
Pentecost has been celebrated in the Christian liturgical calendar since early Christianity, and in Romania it is observed according to the Orthodox rite followed by the majority of the population. The modern nationwide day off on the Monday after Pentecost is part of Romania’s current public-holiday calendar.
Traditions
In Romanian Orthodox practice, Pentecost is associated with church services that focus on the Holy Spirit. Churches are commonly decorated with fresh green branches and other greenery, a custom linked to the feast’s symbolic renewal theme.
How Orthodox Pentecost is celebrated in Romania
Many people attend church services on Pentecost Sunday or on the Monday holiday, and families may use the long weekend for visits and time at home. In towns and villages, greenery in churches and homes is one of the most visible seasonal signs of the feast.
Interesting facts
The holiday is called Rusalii in Romanian, and that name is also used for related folk customs in parts of the country. The 2026 occurrence falls on 31 May, and the 2027 occurrence falls on 20 June.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 May 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.