Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)2026 · Date · History · Messages
Current Albanian official calendars recognize September 5 as Saint Teresa Sanctification Day. Albanian government legislative/ceremonial material documents replacement of the former October 19 Mother Teresa beatification commemoration with September 5, while Vatican material confirms the canonization itself occurred September 4, 2016.
About Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)
Albania observes September 5 as Saint Teresa Sanctification Day, an official public holiday commemorating Saint Teresa of Calcutta, widely known as Mother Teresa.
The current Albanian legal/official identity uses September 5 even though the Vatican canonization ceremony took place on September 4, 2016.
Why Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) matters
The date is part of Albania’s official holiday and state-ceremonial framework and has a national civic as well as religious-cultural context.
The guide describes the observance factually and does not assume religious belief or prescribe devotional participation.
History of Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)
Albania previously listed October 19 as Mother Teresa Beatification Day.
In 2017 the Albanian government advanced a statutory amendment replacing the October 19 entry with September 5 Saint Teresa Sanctification Day; a 2018 State Ceremonial amendment reflects the same replacement.
Vatican records confirm that Mother Teresa was canonized on September 4, 2016, so September 5 is the Albanian recurring holiday date rather than the literal calendar anniversary of the canonization ceremony.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Republic of Albania
Albanian government legal/ceremonial material and current official holiday calendars establish the national public-holiday identity.
Replaced the former October 19 Mother Teresa Beatification Day entry with September 5 Saint Teresa Sanctification Day.
Republic of Albania / Council of Ministers and legislative framework · Amendment process to Law No. 7651 on official holidays and commemorative days
Updated the State Ceremonial from the October 19 beatification entry to September 5 Saint Teresa Sanctification Day.
Council of Ministers of Albania · 2018 amendment to the State Ceremonial
Republic of Albania public authorities
Current Bank of Albania and government material continue to recognize September 5 in the official public-holiday/state-ceremonial framework.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
Saint Teresa Canonisation Day in Albania, Saint Teresa Canonization Day in Albania, Saint Teresa Sanctification Day, Dita e Shenjtërimit të Shenjt Terezës
How to Observe Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)
Read about Mother Teresa’s Albanian heritage and the legal history of the September 5 observance from institutional sources.
If you are religious, participate according to your own tradition; nonreligious readers can approach the day as history and public culture.
Do not assume every workplace or private business follows the same closure practice without checking current Albanian rules.
Use respectful language about a public religious figure without turning factual explanation into devotional instruction.
Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) Facts
The current recurring date is September 5.
Albanian government material replaced the former October 19 beatification commemoration with September 5 Saint Teresa Sanctification Day.
Mother Teresa’s Vatican canonization ceremony was September 4, 2016.
The September 5 public-holiday identity and the September 4 canonization date are related but distinct facts.
Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) Messages
Remember the difference between the September 5 Albanian holiday and the September 4, 2016 canonization ceremony.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Faith Context Respect.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Bank of Albania — current official holiday schedule
Holy See — canonization chronology
Republic of Albania — Council of Ministers legislative/ceremonial material
Albanian Council of Ministers — 18 October 2017 bill changing October 19 to September 5 (opens in a new tab)
National Government Legislative History
Albanian Council of Ministers — 9 October 2018 State Ceremonial amendment (opens in a new tab)
National Government Decision
Bank of Albania — 2026 Official Bank Holiday Schedule (opens in a new tab)
Central Bank Government Calendar
Holy See — Canonization of Mother Teresa, 4 September 2016 (opens in a new tab)
Religious Institution Primary
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)?
5 September The documented recurrence rule is: 5 September.
Does Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) an official public holiday?
Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as Albania / official public holiday and commemoration. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.
Who established or recognizes Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës)?
The reviewed sources identify Republic of Albania as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Republic of Albania public authorities.
Is Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to Albania. Its fuller verified scope is: Albania / official public holiday and commemoration.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-25.
When is Saint Teresa Sanctification Day in Albania?
It is observed on September 5.
Was Mother Teresa canonized on September 5, 2016?
No. Vatican records place the canonization ceremony on September 4, 2016; September 5 is the recurring Albanian holiday date.
What did the observance replace?
Albanian government material records replacement of the former October 19 Mother Teresa Beatification Day entry.
Is it appropriate for nonreligious people to read about the day?
Yes. The observance can be described through its Albanian legal, historical and cultural context without assuming religious belief.
Other observances on September 5
These observances are also listed on September 5, 2027.
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