What is Mawlid?
Mawlid al-Nabi commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. In Ethiopia, EtCal lists it as a Muslim holiday with national holiday context where applicable.
The holiday is observed through prayer, remembrance, gatherings, religious teaching, charity, and community events depending on local practice.
The spelling may appear as Mawlid, Maulid, or Mevlid in different contexts, but EtCal keeps a clear English label for search and planning.
Religious and community meaning
For communities that observe Mawlid, the day is connected with love and respect for the Prophet, religious learning, and public or family remembrance.
Ethiopian Muslim communities may mark the day through mosque gatherings, recitations, meals, and social visits.
Practice varies, so EtCal focuses on calendar visibility rather than prescribing religious details.
Calendar timing
Mawlid falls on 12 Rabi al-Awwal in the Hijri calendar. Its Gregorian and Ethiopian equivalents change every year.
Because the Hijri calendar is lunar, the date moves through the Gregorian seasons over time.
EtCal’s holiday data helps users locate Mawlid in the Ethiopian year and add it to their planning calendar.
Using EtCal
Use the Muslim filter on the holiday page to find Mawlid quickly, or use the national filter when the public holiday context applies.
The mobile apps provide reminders, countdowns, widgets, and offline access for users who follow Hijri-related holidays regularly.
Sources and further reading
This page is written as original English EtCal content and cross-checked against trusted Ethiopian calendar, cultural, Orthodox, Islamic, and public-holiday references.
Related Holiday Info
Continue with related Ethiopian, Orthodox, Muslim, and cultural/regional holiday pages.
Frequently asked questions
When is Mawlid?
Mawlid is 12 Rabi al-Awwal in the Hijri calendar.
Why are there different spellings?
English transliteration differs, so Mawlid and Maulid may both appear.
Is Mawlid a public holiday in Ethiopia?
It is treated as a Muslim holiday with national holiday context where applicable.
Does the Gregorian date change?
Yes. It follows the lunar Hijri calendar.