National Day typically refers to a certain date that has been designated to celebrate the true essence or nationhood of a country or nation. It could also be a date that has been specially marked in order to celebrate some significant occasion such as the date the nation gained her independence, the birth anniversary of an important national leader, the date the nation was declared a republic or a date that holds special significance with regard to a ruler or a patron saint, just to name a few of the possible origins of these days.
Certain countries have more than one National Day to celebrate and most of the time, they are declared as public holidays. Each country celebrates their National Days with pride and enthusiasm and they do so in their own unique style. The 4th of July, which marks the Independence of the United States of America, is celebrated fervently by participating in the fireworks, organizing picnics, barbecues and parades. August 15th, the Independence Day of India, is celebrated by hoisting the national flag and saluting her with honor and pride. These are only a few instances and there are very many more.
Let us now take a look at some of the important National Days celebrated in the world.
| List of Some National Days | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| COUNTRY | NATIONAL DAY | DATE | ORIGIN |
|
Australia |
Australia Day |
January 26 |
date when the first European settlement of Australia, Sydney, was founded in 1788 |
|
Argentina |
Independence Day |
July 9 |
Declaration of Independence in 1816 from Spain |
|
Albania |
Independence Day |
November 28 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from the Ottoman rule in 1912 |
|
Aruba (The Netherlands) |
Flag Day |
March 18 |
Celebrating country autonomous status within the Netherlands in 1948 |
|
Bahamas |
Independence Day |
July 10 |
Celebrating Independence won from the United Kingdom in 1973 |
|
Balochistan (Pakistan) |
Independence Day |
August 11 |
Commemorating Independence from India in 1947 |
|
Bangladesh |
Independence Day |
March 26 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from Pakistan in 1971 |
|
Bermuda |
Bermuda Day |
May 24 |
Day specially marked to celebrate the culture and heritage of the islands |
|
Brittany |
Feast Day |
May 19 |
Celebrating the Feast Day of the patron saint of Brittany, Ivo of Kermartin |
|
Bolivia |
Independence Day |
August 6 |
Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1825 |
|
Cuba |
Liberation Day |
January 1 |
Fidel Castro took over in 1959 and Spanish rule ended since 1899 |
|
People’s Republic of China |
National Day |
October 1 |
Commemorating the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 |
|
Canada |
Canada Day |
July 1 |
Celebrating Canada as a confederation of four provinces in 1867 |
|
Croatia |
Statehood Day |
June 25 |
Commemorating the Declaration of Independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 |
|
Dominican Republic |
Independence Day |
February 27 |
Commemorating the Independence won from Haiti in 1844 |
|
Dominican Republic |
Restoration Day |
August 16 |
Commemorating the Independence won from Spain in 1865 |
|
Democratic Republic of Congo |
Independence Day |
June 30 |
Celebrating the Independence won from Belgium in 1960 |
|
England (United Kingdom) |
St. George’s Day |
April 23 |
Celebrated in honor of the patron saint |
|
Egypt |
Revolution Day |
July 23 |
In memory of the revolution of 1952 |
|
Egypt |
Armed Forces Day |
October 6 |
In memory of the beginning of the October War of 1973 |
|
East Timor |
Independence Day |
May 20 |
Commemorating the Independence won from Indonesia in 2002 |
|
Fiji |
Fiji Day |
October 10 |
Celebrating the Independence won from United Kingdom in 1970 |
|
Germany |
Germany Unity Day |
October 3 |
Commemorating the unification of West and East Germany in 1990 |
|
Haiti |
Independence Day |
January 1 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from France in 1804 |
|
India |
Independence Day |
August 15 |
Declaration of India as an Independent country in 1947 from British Colonial rule |
|
India |
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday |
October 2 |
Remembering the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi |
|
Iran |
Beginning of New Year |
March 20 |
Celebrating Nowruz, the beginning of the new Iranian Year |
|
Ireland |
St. Patrick Day |
March 17 |
Commemorating the memory of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick |
|
Japan |
National Foundation Day |
February 11 |
Commemorating the crowning of the first emperor, Jimmu in 660 B.C |
|
Jordon |
Independence Day |
May 25 |
Commemorating the Independence won from the United Kingdom in 1946 |
|
Kenya |
Independence Day |
December 12 |
Commemorating the Independence won from the United Kingdom in 1963 |
|
Kenya |
Republic Day / Jamhuri Day |
December 12 |
Commemorating the Declaration of Kenya as a Republic in 1964 |
|
Kuwait |
Liberation Day |
February 26 |
Commemorating the Declaration of Independence from Iraq in 1991 |
|
Morocco |
Independence Day |
March 2 |
Commemorating the Independence won from France in 1956 |
|
Mexico |
Grito de Dolores |
September 16 |
Commemorating the Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1810 |
|
The Netherlands |
Liberation Day |
May 5 |
Celebrating the Declaration on Independence from Nazi Germany in 1945 |
|
Nicaragua |
Independence Day |
September 15 |
Commemorating the Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1821 |
|
Pakistan |
Independence Day |
August 14 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from British Rule in 1947 |
|
Pakistan |
Republic Day |
March 23 |
Celebrating the day when the Islamic Republic was established in 1956 |
|
Panama |
Separation Day |
November 3 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from Columbia in 1903 |
|
Qatar |
Official National Day |
December 18 |
Commemorating the assumption of power by Sheikh Jassem bin Mohamed al-Thani in 1878 |
|
Rwanda |
Independence Day |
July 1 |
Commemorating the Independence won from Belgium in 1962 |
|
Scotland |
St. Andrew’s Day |
November 30 |
Commemorating the patron Saint of Scotland |
|
Sierra Leone |
Republic Day |
April 27 |
Celebrating the Independence won from the United Kingdom in 1961 |
|
Singapore |
National Day |
August 9 |
Celebrating the separation from Malaysia in 1965 |
|
Slovenia |
Statehood Day |
June 25 |
Celebrating the day when Slovenia was declared independent from Yugoslavia in 1991 |
|
South Africa |
First Democratic Election |
April 27 |
Commemorating the day when South Africa had their first democratic general election in 1994 |
|
Tunisia |
Independence Day |
March 20 |
Celebrating the day when Tunisia was declared independent from France in 1956 |
|
Thailand |
Birth Anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej |
December 5 |
Day set aside to mark the celebration of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday |
|
United Arab Emirates |
National Day |
December 2 |
Commemorating the formation of the united federation of the seven emirates and gaining of Independence from United Kingdom in 1971 |
|
United States |
Independence Day |
July 4 |
Celebrating the Independence won from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776 |
|
Uganda |
Independence Day |
October 9 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 |
|
Vatican City |
Inauguration of the 265th Pope |
April 24 |
Commemorating the Inauguration of the 265th Pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2005 |
|
Venezuela |
Independence Day |
July 5 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1811 |
|
Vietnam |
National Day |
September 2 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from Japan and France in 1945 |
|
Wales |
St. David’s Day |
March 1 |
Commemorating the Patron Saint, David |
|
Zambia |
Independence Day |
October 24 |
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 |
It is interesting to note that unlike so many of the above listed countries and many more, Denmark is perhaps the only country which does not have a specific National Day to celebrate. So, be it the celebration of nationhood, the birth of a national leader or a patron saint, every country has her own unique style of celebrating this special day.
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