Shift of the Birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW and Christmas Holidays in the 2021 Calendar, Here's the Reason

Kapanlagi.com - Changes in holidays are not only applied to Islamic New Year 1443 H but also the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday. The schedule for the holiday of the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, 12 Rabi'ul Awwal 1443 H, which originally fell on October 19, has been changed to October 20, 2021.

The latest news about changes in holidays and joint leave was conveyed by the Director General of Islamic Guidance, Kamaruddin Amin, referring to Joint Decree of the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower, and Minister of Administrative Reform No. 712, 1, and 3 of 2021 regarding the second amendment to Joint Decree of the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower, Minister of Administrative Reform, and the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform No. 642, 4, and 4 of 2020 regarding National Holidays and Joint Leave.

Similar to the shift in the Islamic New Year 2021 commemoration holiday, which originally was on August 10, 2021, and changed to August 11, 2021, the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday also shifted one day from the original schedule.

"Originally the holiday was on October 19, changed to October 20, 2021," explained Kamaruddin Amin in Jakarta, Wednesday (08/04/2021) as quoted from the kemenag.go.id website.

Not only the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, but also the joint leave for Christmas which originally was on December 24, 2021, has been abolished. He also emphasized that these changes only occur on religious commemoration holidays, not major religious holidays. So what is the reason behind these changes in holidays?

Here is further discussion regarding the shift in holidays and joint leave in 2021 that have been changed or shifted from the original schedule.

1. Reasons for the Change in Holiday Shifts in 2021 by the Government

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The changes to public holidays and collective leave are not made without reason. This was explained by Kamaruddin Amin in his statement as cited from the kemenag.go.id website, done as an effort to prevent and anticipate the spread of COVID-19.

"This is an effort to anticipate the emergence of new clusters, so it is deemed necessary to change the public holidays and collective leave in 2021," said Kamaruddin Amin.

As it is known, there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia for the past few months since May 2021. As of now, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has reached 3,686,740, with 3,129,661 recoveries and 108,571 deaths.

Various prevention efforts have been made to suppress the development of COVID-19 in Indonesia, such as the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) and changes to public holidays and collective leave in 2021.

2. List of Holiday Changes

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As mentioned in the previous review, there are two holidays that have been rescheduled from the original schedule. The list of holiday changes that have been determined by the government along with their latest schedules are as follows.

List of Changed Holidays:

- Islamic New Year 1443 H: August 10, 2021 - The latest schedule for the holiday change is August 11, 2021.

- Commemoration of the Birth of Prophet Muhammad: October 19, 2021 - The latest schedule for the holiday change is October 20.

- Joint Leave for Christmas: December 24, 2021 - the latest schedule for the holiday is canceled.

3. List of Holidays in 2021

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In addition to the changes in two national holidays in 2021, it is also important to know the schedule of holidays in 2021 as explained in the following review. As a reminder, you can check the list of holidays in 2021 through the review below starting from January to December.

- New Year 2021: January 1, 2021

- Chinese New Year: February 12, 2021

- Isra' Mi'raj of Prophet Muhammad: March 11, 2021

- Day of Silence for the Saka New Year 1943: March 14, 2021

- Death of Jesus Christ: April 2, 2021

- Labor Day: May 1, 2021

- Ascension of Jesus Christ: May 13, 2021

- Eid al-Fitr 1442 H: May 13-14, 2021

- Vesak Day 2565: May 26, 2021

- Pancasila Day: June 1, 2021

- Eid al-Adha 1442 H: July 20, 2021

- Islamic New Year 1443 H: August 11, 2021

- Indonesian Independence Day: August 17, 2021

- Birth of Prophet Muhammad: October 20, 2021

- Christmas: December 25, 2021

That's the explanation about the rescheduling of the holiday of the Birth of Prophet Muhammad and Christmas 2021 along with the latest schedule. The government's reason for rescheduling the holidays is an effort to suppress and prevent the spread of COVID-19. The strict implementation of health protocols and vaccination up to now is also expected to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

(kpl/nlw)