Syrian President Sets Public Holidays, Reigniting Debate Over the Revolution's Start Date: March 18th Designated as Revolution Day

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 188 of 2025 today, Sunday, which stipulates the determination of official holidays and days on which state employees are entitled to fully paid leave, according to the official Syrian news agency.

The list of official holidays included a set of well-known religious and civil occasions, among them Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, New Year's Day, and the Prophet's Birthday. However, the decree sparked widespread controversy on Syrian social media platforms for officially adopting March 18th as Syrian Revolution Day.

Syrian Split Over the Revolution's Launch Date

The decision drew a wave of mixed reactions; some welcomed the designation of March 18th to commemorate the revolution's start, while others objected to the specific date, pointing out that the first mass demonstration demanding freedom against the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad actually began in Damascus on March 15, 2011.

Opinions among bloggers and activists varied regarding the true date that should be adopted as the revolution's starting point. Activists affirmed that the first spark began on March 15, 2011, through a peaceful demonstration organized by activists, considered a first step toward change. However, this movement transformed into a broad mass uprising and a dramatic escalation with the events of March 18th in Daraa, which witnessed the fall of the revolution's first two martyrs, Hussam Ayyash and Mahmoud al-Jawabra, by the forces of the overthrown regime.

Is the Decision Political or Symbolic?

Some commentators viewed the determination of the actual start day of the revolution as a difficult matter, considering that resolving this debate is a reflection of a "purely political decision." One person pointed out that "I am not against March 18th being the day, as the sacrifices of the people of Daraa hold great symbolism, but it would be better for the matter to be resolved through Parliament, because symbolic national issues must unite Syrians, not divide them."

Conversely, another group defended the Syrian government's decision, seeing the adoption of March 18th as Revolution Day as a commemoration of its anniversary and an honoring of everyone who sacrificed for Syria's freedom. They asserted that this tribute does not diminish the role of participants in the March 15th demonstrations or the Al-Hariqa demonstration, considered the first protest against the former regime. These individuals believed that choosing March 18th came as a tribute to the blood of the first two martyrs of the Syrian Revolution. Some activists chose a compromise solution, with one writing: "I will celebrate March 15th and March 18th, and every day I live without Assad. In a country that suffered oppression for decades, its people have the right to celebrate every day."