Good Time to Visit
Weather
The weather in Jordan during May to September is hot and dry. Winters can be cold and wet; with the majority of rain falling between November and March, and the temperatures reachimg their lowest in December and January. Temperatures at Amman are 7°C in January and 25°C in July.
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight clothes in the summer, with warmer clothes winter and cool summer evenings. Waterproofs will be needed from November to April.
More information of the Jordanian weather may be found in Climate in Jordan.
Festivals
Events in the Islamic calendar are of great importance. Of these, the month of fasting, Ramadan (dates vary), is of particular significance. The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr, a four or five-day holiday. Secular holidays include Independence Day on 25 May and Labour Day on 1 May.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Jordan:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 30 January | King Abdullah II's Birthday |
| March/April (variable) | Good Friday |
| March/April (variable) | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 25 May | Independence Day |
| 10 June | Army Day |
| 14 November | King Hussein Remembrance Day |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
| Variable* | Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
| Variable* | Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet) |
| Variable* | Prophet's Ascension |
| Variable* | Ramadan begins |
| 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.
