Albania Dates and Calendars
| Albania Wiki Topics |
|
| Albania Beginning Research |
| Record Types |
| Albania Background |
| Albania Genealogical Word Lists |
|
|
| Local Research Resources |
In other languages: Shqip, ShqiptarOnline Resources
Background
Anciently, Albania's calendaring primarily was composed of Roman/Julian influence. Albania has transitioned from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was adopted in Albania in December 1912, around the time Albania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire. However, due to the presence of both Catholic and Orthodox Christian populations, the use of both calendars is historically significant. The Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar for calculating certain religious holidays, most notably Easter.
This difference in calendar usage leads to variations in the dates of religious observances.
A unique holiday in Albania is "Dita e Verës" (Summer Day). It is celebrated on March 14th (Gregorian), which has roots in older, possibly pre-Christian, observances related to the spring equinox. This celebration relates to the Julian calendar date of March 1st.
Calendars
Julian Calendar
- Influence began with the Roman Empire.
- Continues to be used by the Orthodox Church for religious holidays.
Gregorian Calendar
- Used by the Catholic church in Albania since the 1500s.
- Was adopted for civil purposes in December 1912 (around the time Albania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire).[1]
- Currently used for most everyday activities.
Islamic Calendar
- Introduced during the Ottoman Empire.
- Increased influence in Albania from 15th-20th centuries due to the Ottoman Empire.
- Primarily influenced religious observances within the Muslim community.
References
- ↑ List of adoption dates of the Gregorian calendar by country", Wikipedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_adoption_dates_of_the_Gregorian_calendar_by_country, accessed 5 March 2025.