Good Time to Visit
Weather
The weather in Iraq is mainly arid; summers (March-October) are very hot and dry, whilst winters (December-February) are often cold, and are especially harsh in the mountains. Average temperatures in Baghdad are 10°C in January and 35°C in July, with an average annual rainfall of 14 cm. Rainfall is highest in the north-east, where the average is 40-60 cm.
Visitors are advised to bring long, loose clothing during the summer months, with medium-weights for the winter. Modest dress is advised, especially for women - upper legs and arms, shoulders and cleavage should be covered. A headscarf can be useful for extra coverage, and is essential for visiting mosques.
More information about the Iraqi weather may be found in Climate in Iraq.
Festivals
Muslim festivals are a major part of Iraqi life, the dates of which vary according to the Islamic calendar. Ramadan, the month of fasting, is a key event.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Iraq:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 21 March | Noruz (Persian New Year) |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 17 July | Republic Day |
| Variable* | Islamic New Year |
| Variable* | Ashura |
| Variable* | Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad) |
| Variable* | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| Variable* | Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
* Although Muslim holidays always fall on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date they are celebrated on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar whilst the Gregorian calendar is solar. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year. The method used to determine when each Islamic month begins also varies from country to country.
