Commemorating Kartini Day: Is 21 April 2026 a Public Holiday?

This month features the national commemoration of Kartini Day on 21 April 2026. The observance of Kartini Day aims to remember the national heroine R.A. Kartini as one of the champions of women’s rights. Is 21 April 2026 a holiday? Citing the Joint Decree of Three Ministers on National Holidays and Collective Leave for 2026, 21 April 2026 is not included as a red date or national holiday. This means that Kartini Day is not a public holiday. The Origins of Kartini Day According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology website, 21 April each year is one of the historic days for the Indonesian nation. On 2 May 1964, Raden Ajeng Kartini Djojo Adhiningrat was designated as a National Independence Hero through Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 108 of 1964. At that time, President Soekarno also designated Kartini’s birth date, 21 April, as Kartini Day, which continues to be commemorated to this day. The commemoration of Kartini Day is an occasion to remember her struggles to achieve equality between men and women, particularly in the field of education. Kartini’s thoughts were greatly influenced by her social environment, making education a tool to advance a nation. According to Kartini, the knowledge acquired by an individual is a way to achieve happiness for oneself or a group of people. Kartini had profound hopes for the indigenous people to receive education. All of this was aimed at developing intelligent and characterful individuals. Raden Ajeng Kartini was born in Jepara, Central Java, on 21 April 1879 and passed away in Rembang, Central Java, on 17 September 1904 at the age of 25. Kartini’s story as a female figure is partly recorded in the book Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang, taken from a collection of letters written by Kartini. That collection of letters was published by J.H. Abendanon under the title Door Duisternis Tot Licht. After Kartini’s death, Mr. J.H. Abendanon collected and published the letters that R.A. Kartini had sent to her friends in Europe. List of National Holidays May–December 2026 From May to December 2026, there are nine national holidays to be aware of. Here is the list: - Friday, 1 May 2026: International Labour Day - Thursday, 14 May 2026: Ascension of Jesus Christ - Wednesday, 27 May 2026: Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijri - Sunday, 31 May 2026: Vesak Day 2570 Buddhist Era (BE) - Monday, 1 June 2026: Pancasila Birth Day - Tuesday, 16 June 2026: 1 Muharram Islamic New Year 1448 Hijri - Monday, 17 August 2026: Proclamation of Independence - Tuesday, 25 August 2026: Birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW - Friday, 25 December 2026: Birth of Jesus Christ (Christmas) List of Collective Leave Days May–December 2026 Until the end of the year, there are still three collective leave days to commemorate the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Eid al-Adha, and Christmas. Here are the dates: - Friday, 15 May 2026: Ascension of Jesus Christ - Thursday, 28 May 2026: Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijri - Thursday, 24 December 2026: Christmas