Field Listing :: National holiday
This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
Country
National holiday
Afghanistan Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Albania Independence Day, 28 November (1912) also known as Flag Day
Algeria Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
American Samoa Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Andorra Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Angola Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Anguilla Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Antigua and Barbuda Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)
Argentina Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Armenia Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Aruba Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Australia Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates 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)
Austria National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Azerbaijan Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Bahamas, The Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Bahrain National 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
Bangladesh Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day; note - March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December, known as Victory Day, memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Barbados Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Belarus Independence 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
Belgium 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King LEOPOLD I
Belize Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Benin National Day, 1 August (1960)
Bermuda Bermuda Day, 24 May
Bhutan National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Bolivia Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Bosnia and Herzegovina National Day (Statehood Day), 25 November (1943); note - observed only in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity
Botswana Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Brazil Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
British Virgin Islands Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Brunei National 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
Bulgaria Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Burkina Faso Republic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Burma Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Burundi Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Cabo Verde Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Cambodia Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Cameroon Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Canada Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Cayman Islands Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Central African Republic Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Chad Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Chile Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
China anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, 1 October (1949)
Christmas Island Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Colombia Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Comoros Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Congo, Republic of the Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Cook Islands Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Costa Rica Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Cote d'Ivoire Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Croatia Independence Day, 8 October (1991) and Statehood Day, 25 June (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
Cuba Triumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)
Curacao Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Cyprus Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Independence Day"
Czech Republic Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Denmark none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day
Djibouti Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Dominica Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Dominican Republic Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Ecuador Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Egypt National Day, 23 July (1952)
El Salvador Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Equatorial Guinea Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Eritrea Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Estonia Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
Ethiopia National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
European Union Europe Day 9 May (1950); note - the day in 1950 that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of what became the European Coal and Steel Community, the progenitor of today's European Union, with the aim of achieving a united Europe
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Faroe Islands Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July
Fiji Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Finland Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
France Fete 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 Polynesia Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)
Gabon Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Gambia, The Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Georgia Independence 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
Germany Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Ghana Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Gibraltar National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
Greece Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Greenland June 21 (longest day)
Grenada Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Guam Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Guatemala Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Guernsey Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Guinea Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Guinea-Bissau Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Guyana Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Haiti Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Holy See (Vatican City) Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)
Honduras Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Hong Kong National 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
Hungary Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August; note - commemorates the date when his remains were transferred to Buda (now Budapest)
Iceland Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
India Republic Day, 26 January (1950)
Indonesia Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Iran Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Iraq Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic Day
Ireland Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Isle of Man Tynwald Day, 5 July
Israel Independence 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
Italy Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Jamaica Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Japan Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Jersey Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Jordan Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Kazakhstan Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Kenya Independence Day, 12 December (1963); Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963); Mashujaa Day, 20 October (2010)
Kiribati Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Korea, North Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Korea, South Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Kosovo Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Kuwait National Day, 25 February (1950)
Kyrgyzstan Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Laos Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Latvia Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
Lebanon Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Lesotho Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Liberia Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Libya Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)
Liechtenstein Assumption Day, 15 August
Lithuania Independence 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
Luxembourg National 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
Macau National 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
Macedonia Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day
Madagascar Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Malawi Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Malaysia Independence Day 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)
Maldives Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Mali Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Malta Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
Marshall Islands Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Mauritania Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Mauritius Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Mexico Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Micronesia, Federated States of Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Moldova Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Monaco National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Mongolia Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Montenegro National Day, 13 July (1878)
Montserrat birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Morocco Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Mozambique Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Namibia Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Nauru Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Nepal Republic Day, 29 May
Netherlands King's Day (for 2014, the holiday will be on 26 April; thereafter it will fall on the King's Birthday of 27 April (1967))
New Caledonia Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)
New Zealand Waitangi 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)
Nicaragua Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Niger Republic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
Nigeria Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Niue Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Norfolk Island Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Norway Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Oman Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Pakistan Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940); note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Palau Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Panama Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Papua New Guinea Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Paraguay Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Peru Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Philippines Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US
Pitcairn Islands Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926); Discovery Day, 2 July (1767)
Poland Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Portugal Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Puerto Rico US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Qatar National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Romania Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Russia Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Rwanda Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Saint Barthelemy Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572)
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Saint Kitts and Nevis Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Saint Lucia Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Saint Martin Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Samoa Independence 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 Marino Founding of the Republic, 3 September (A.D. 301)
Sao Tome and Principe Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Saudi Arabia Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Senegal Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Serbia National Day, 15 February
Seychelles Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Sierra Leone Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Singapore National Day, 9 August (1965)
Sint Maarten Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Slovakia Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Slovenia Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Solomon Islands Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Somalia Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
South Africa Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
South Sudan Independence Day, 9 July (2011)
Spain National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas
Sri Lanka Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
Sudan Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Suriname Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Swaziland Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Sweden National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day
Switzerland Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Syria Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Taiwan Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
Tajikistan Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Tanzania Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
Thailand Birthday of King PHUMIPHON (BHUMIBOL), 5 December (1927)
Timor-Leste Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Togo Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Tokelau Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Tonga National Day, 4 November (1875)
Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Tunisia Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
Turkey Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Turkmenistan Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Tuvalu Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Uganda Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Ukraine Independence 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 Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day
United Arab Emirates Independence Day, 2 December (1971)
United Kingdom the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
United States Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Uruguay Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Uzbekistan Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Vanuatu Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Venezuela Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Vietnam Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Virgin Islands Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Wallis and Futuna Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Yemen Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Zambia Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Zimbabwe Independence Day, 18 April (1980)