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Home  »  The World Factbook, 2008  »  National holiday

The World Factbook. 2008.

National holiday

CountryNational holiday
AfghanistanIndependence Day, 19 August (1919)
AlbaniaIndependence Day, 28 November (1912)
AlgeriaRevolution Day, 1 November (1954)
American SamoaFlag Day, 17 April (1900)
AndorraOur Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
AngolaIndependence Day, 11 November (1975)
AnguillaAnguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Antigua and BarbudaIndependence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)
ArgentinaRevolution Day, 25 May (1810)
ArmeniaIndependence Day, 21 September (1991)
ArubaFlag Day, 18 March (1976)
AustraliaAustralia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
AustriaNational Day, 26 October (1955); note – commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
AzerbaijanFounding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Bahamas, TheIndependence Day, 10 July (1973)
BahrainNational Day, 16 December (1971); note – 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
BangladeshIndependence Day, 26 March (1971); note – 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
BarbadosIndependence Day, 30 November (1966)
BelarusIndependence Day, 3 July (1944); note – 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Belgium21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
BelizeIndependence Day, 21 September (1981)
BeninNational Day, 1 August (1960)
BermudaBermuda Day, 24 May
BhutanNational Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
BoliviaIndependence Day, 6 August (1825)
Bosnia and HerzegovinaNational Day, 25 November (1943)
BotswanaIndependence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
BrazilIndependence Day, 7 September (1822)
British Virgin IslandsTerritory Day, 1 July (1956)
BruneiNational Day, 23 February (1984); note – 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
BulgariaLiberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Burkina FasoRepublic Day, 11 December (1958)
BurmaIndependence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
BurundiIndependence Day, 1 July (1962)
CambodiaIndependence Day, 9 November (1953)
CameroonRepublic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
CanadaCanada Day, 1 July (1867)
Cape VerdeIndependence Day, 5 July (1975)
Cayman IslandsConstitution Day, first Monday in July
Central African RepublicRepublic Day, 1 December (1958)
ChadIndependence Day, 11 August (1960)
ChileIndependence Day, 18 September (1810)
ChinaAnniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, 1 October (1949)
Christmas IslandAustralia Day, 26 January (1788)
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsAustralia Day, 26 January (1788)
ColombiaIndependence Day, 20 July (1810)
ComorosIndependence Day, 6 July (1975)
Congo, Democratic Republic of theIndependence Day, 30 June (1960)
Congo, Republic of theIndependence Day, 15 August (1960)
Cook IslandsConstitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Costa RicaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Cote d’IvoireIndependence Day, 7 August (1960)
CroatiaIndependence Day, 8 October (1991); note – 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia
CubaTriumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)
CyprusIndependence Day, 1 October (1960); note – Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Czech RepublicCzech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Denmarknone designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day
DjiboutiIndependence Day, 27 June (1977)
DominicaIndependence Day, 3 November (1978)
Dominican RepublicIndependence Day, 27 February (1844)
EcuadorIndependence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
EgyptRevolution Day, 23 July (1952)
El SalvadorIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Equatorial GuineaIndependence Day, 12 October (1968)
EritreaIndependence Day, 24 May (1993)
EstoniaIndependence Day, 24 February (1918); note – 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
EthiopiaNational Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
European UnionEurope Day 9 May (1950); note – a Union-wide holiday, the day that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community to achieve an organized Europe
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Faroe IslandsOlaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July
FijiIndependence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
FinlandIndependence Day, 6 December (1917)
FranceFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note – although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
French PolynesiaBastille Day, 14 July (1789)
GabonIndependence Day, 17 August (1960)
Gambia, TheIndependence Day, 18 February (1965)
GeorgiaIndependence Day, 26 May (1918); note – 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
GermanyUnity Day, 3 October (1990)
GhanaIndependence Day, 6 March (1957)
GibraltarNational Day, 10 September (1967); note – day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
GreeceIndependence Day, 25 March (1821)
GreenlandJune 21 (longest day)
GrenadaIndependence Day, 7 February (1974)
GuamDiscovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
GuatemalaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
GuernseyLiberation Day, 9 May (1945)
GuineaIndependence Day, 2 October (1958)
Guinea-BissauIndependence Day, 24 September (1973)
GuyanaRepublic Day, 23 February (1970)
HaitiIndependence Day, 1 January (1804)
Holy See (Vatican City)Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
HondurasIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Hong KongNational Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note – 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
HungarySaint Stephen’s Day, 20 August
IcelandIndependence Day, 17 June (1944)
IndiaRepublic Day, 26 January (1950)
IndonesiaIndependence Day, 17 August (1945)
IranRepublic Day, 1 April (1979)
IraqRevolution Day, 17 July (1968); note – this holiday was celebrated under the SADDAM Husayn regime; the Government of Iraq has yet to declare a new national holiday
IrelandSaint Patrick’s Day, 17 March
Isle of ManTynwald Day, 5 July
IsraelIndependence Day, 14 May (1948); note – Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
ItalyRepublic Day, 2 June (1946)
JamaicaIndependence Day, 6 August (1962)
JapanBirthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
JerseyLiberation Day, 9 May (1945)
JordanIndependence Day, 25 May (1946)
KazakhstanIndependence Day, 16 December (1991)
KenyaIndependence Day, 12 December (1963)
KiribatiIndependence Day, 12 July (1979)
Korea, NorthFounding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Korea, SouthLiberation Day, 15 August (1945)
KuwaitNational Day, 25 February (1950)
KyrgyzstanIndependence Day, 31 August (1991)
LaosRepublic Day, 2 December (1975)
LatviaIndependence Day, 18 November (1918); note – 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
LebanonIndependence Day, 22 November (1943)
LesothoIndependence Day, 4 October (1966)
LiberiaIndependence Day, 26 July (1847)
LibyaRevolution Day, 1 September (1969)
LiechtensteinAssumption Day, 15 August
LithuaniaIndependence Day, 16 February (1918); note – 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
LuxembourgNational Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June; note – the actual date of birth was 23 January 1896, but the festivities were shifted by five months to allow observance during a more favorable time of year
MacauNational Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note – 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
MacedoniaIlinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note – also known as Saint Elijah’s Day
MadagascarIndependence Day, 26 June (1960)
MalawiIndependence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
MalaysiaIndependence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)
MaldivesIndependence Day, 26 July (1965)
MaliIndependence Day, 22 September (1960)
MaltaIndependence Day, 21 September (1964)
Marshall IslandsConstitution Day, 1 May (1979)
MauritaniaIndependence Day, 28 November (1960)
MauritiusIndependence Day, 12 March (1968)
MayotteBastille Day, 14 July (1789)
MexicoIndependence Day, 16 September (1810)
Micronesia, Federated States ofConstitution Day, 10 May (1979)
MoldovaIndependence Day, 27 August (1991)
MonacoNational Day (Saint Rainier’s Day), 19 November (1857)
MongoliaIndependence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
MontenegroNational Day, 13 July (1878)
MontserratBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
MoroccoThrone Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
MozambiqueIndependence Day, 25 June (1975)
NamibiaIndependence Day, 21 March (1990)
NauruIndependence Day, 31 January (1968)
Nepalin 2006, Parliament abolished the birthday of King GYANENDRA (7 July) and Constitution Day (9 November) as national holidays
NetherlandsQueen’s Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Netherlands AntillesQueen’s Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
New CaledoniaBastille Day, 14 July (1789)
New ZealandWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
NicaraguaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
NigerRepublic Day, 18 December (1958)
NigeriaIndependence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
NiueWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Norfolk IslandBounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Northern Mariana IslandsCommonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
NorwayConstitution Day, 17 May (1814)
OmanBirthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
PakistanRepublic Day, 23 March (1956)
PalauConstitution Day, 9 July (1979)
PanamaIndependence Day, 3 November (1903)
Papua New GuineaIndependence Day, 16 September (1975)
ParaguayIndependence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
PeruIndependence Day, 28 July (1821)
PhilippinesIndependence Day, 12 June (1898); note – 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US
Pitcairn IslandsBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
PolandConstitution Day, 3 May (1791)
PortugalPortugal Day (Day of Portugal), 10 June (1580); note – also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Puerto RicoUS Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
QatarIndependence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December
RomaniaUnification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
RussiaRussia Day, 12 June (1990)
RwandaIndependence Day, 1 July (1962)
Saint BarthelemyBastille Day, 14 July (1789); note – local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August
Saint HelenaBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Saint Kitts and NevisIndependence Day, 19 September (1983)
Saint LuciaIndependence Day, 22 February (1979)
Saint MartinBastille Day, 14 July (1789); note – local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)
Saint Pierre and MiquelonBastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesIndependence Day, 27 October (1979)
SamoaIndependence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note – 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; it is observed in June
San MarinoFounding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Sao Tome and PrincipeIndependence Day, 12 July (1975)
Saudi ArabiaUnification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
SenegalIndependence Day, 4 April (1960)
SerbiaNational Day, 15 February
SeychellesConstitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Sierra LeoneIndependence Day, 27 April (1961)
SingaporeNational Day, 9 August (1965)
SlovakiaConstitution Day, 1 September (1992)
SloveniaIndependence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Solomon IslandsIndependence Day, 7 July (1978)
SomaliaFoundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note – 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
South AfricaFreedom Day, 27 April (1994)
SpainNational Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas
Sri LankaIndependence Day, 4 February (1948)
SudanIndependence Day, 1 January (1956)
SurinameIndependence Day, 25 November (1975)
SwazilandIndependence Day, 6 September (1968)
SwedenSwedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
SwitzerlandFounding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
SyriaIndependence Day, 17 April (1946)
TaiwanRepublic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
TajikistanIndependence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
TanzaniaUnion Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
ThailandBirthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)
Timor-LesteIndependence Day, 28 November (1975)
TogoIndependence Day, 27 April (1960)
TokelauWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
TongaEmancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Trinidad and TobagoIndependence Day, 31 August (1962)
TunisiaIndependence Day, 20 March (1956); also the anniversary of BEN ALI’s assumption of the presidency, 7 November (1987)
TurkeyRepublic Day, 29 October (1923)
TurkmenistanIndependence Day, 27 October (1991)
Turks and Caicos IslandsConstitution Day, 30 August (1976)
TuvaluIndependence Day, 1 October (1978)
UgandaIndependence Day, 9 October (1962)
UkraineIndependence Day, 24 August (1991); note – 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) and the day the short-lived Western and Central Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day
United Arab EmiratesIndependence Day, 2 December (1971)
United Kingdomthe UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
United StatesIndependence Day, 4 July (1776)
UruguayIndependence Day, 25 August (1825)
UzbekistanIndependence Day, 1 September (1991)
VanuatuIndependence Day, 30 July (1980)
VenezuelaIndependence Day, 5 July (1811)
VietnamIndependence Day, 2 September (1945)
Virgin IslandsTransfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Wallis and FutunaBastille Day, 14 July (1789)
YemenUnification Day, 22 May (1990)
ZambiaIndependence Day, 24 October (1964)
ZimbabweIndependence Day, 18 April (1980)