Heroes' Day

Heroes' Day
Observed by	Multiple countries and territories
Type	National
Date	Various
Frequency	Annual

Heroes' DayorNational Heroes' Daymay refer to a number of commemorations of national heroes in different countries and territories. It is often held on thebirthdayof anational heroor heroine, or the anniversary of their great deeds that made them heroes.

Angola

National Heroes Day inAngolais aholiday in Angolaon 17 September, the birthday of the national heroAgostinho Neto.

Bahamas

National Heroes Day in theBahamashas been a public holiday since 2013. It replaced Discovery Day, which celebrated the arrival ofChristopher Columbusto the Americas.

Barbados

National Heroes' Dayis apublic holidayinBarbadoson April 28, honoring the eleven national heroes of Barbados.

Bermuda

National Heroes' Day has been an official holiday inBermudasince 2008, when the centre-left government declared it would replace theQueen's Official Birthdaymarked in June. Over 2,000 residents signed a petition in protest calling to retain the Queen's Birthday holiday.

Initially observed in October, the holiday was moved to the third Monday of June in 2009.

Currently Bermuda has eight (8) National Heroes, voting is open to the public once every decade as of June 2022, with the next nomination period beginning in 2025.

Cape Verde

Heroes Day is apublic holiday in Cape Verdeon 20 January. It commemorates the 1973 assassination ofAmílcar Cabral,who is remembered as a hero for fighting westerncolonialismandexploitation.

Cayman Islands

The fourth Monday in January is National Heroes' Day in the Cayman Islands; it was proclaimed with the National Heroes Law, providing for the declaration of persons who have rendered exceptional service as national heroes. Numerous Caymanians have been declared national heroes, includes the Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden, Mrs.Sybil I. McLaughlin,Mr. Thomas William Farrington, Mrs.Sybil Joyce Hylton,Mr. Desmond Vere Watler, Ms Mary Evelyn Wood, Cert. Hon. andWilliam Warren Conolly.

East Timor

December 31 isNational Heroes DayinEast Timor.It commemorates theIndonesian invasion of East Timor.

Guinea-Bissau

Heroes' Dayis celebrated onJanuary 20to commemorate the assassination of independence leaderAmilcar Cabralin 1973.

Hungary

A wreath onHősök terein 1940.

Heroes' Day (Hungarian:Hősök napja), National Heroes' Day or the Memorial Day of Hungarian Heroes inHungaryis celebrated on the 31 May as a public holiday. It is observed with military ceremonies at monuments such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier onHeroes' Square in Budapestall to commemorate soldiers in service to Hungary.It has been marked every year by theHungarian Defence Forceand the public since 2001.

Indonesia

Hari Pahlawan(IndonesianforHeroes' Day) is aRemembrance Dayannually celebrated on 10 November inIndonesia.The day commemorates the 1945Battle of Surabaya,in which pro-independenceIndonesianlocal community, as well as soldiers and militia fought against British and Dutch troops as part of theIndonesian National Revolution.

Jamaica

In Jamaica, Heroes' Day is celebrated annually on the third Monday of October. It started in 1969.It honoursAlexander Bustamante,Jamaica’s first prime minister;Nanny of the Maroons,who led a fight for independence in the early 18th century, and five other national heroes. The government also recognizes modern heroes on this date.

Kenya

Mashujaa Day,also known asHeroes' Day( "mashujaa" isSwahilifor "heroes" ), is a national day inKenya,which is observed on 20 October as apublic holidayto collectively honour all those who contributed towards the struggle for Kenya's independence or positively contributed in the post independence Kenya. It was previously known asKenyatta Day,which was celebrated to commemorate the detention inKapenguriaof freedom fightersAchieng' Oneko,Bildad Kaggia,Fred Kubai,Jomo Kenyatta,Kung'u KarumbaandPaul Ngei,often referred to as theKapenguria Six.However, following the promulgation of theConstitution of Kenyain August 2010, Kenyatta Day was renamed.

Malaysia

Warriors' Day(Malay:Hari Pahlawan) is a day inMalaysiathat commemorates the servicemen killed during the twoWorld Warsand theMalayan Emergency.By extension, it honours all individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty throughout Malaysia's history. Until 2010, every year on 31 July, theKingand thePrime Ministeras well as senior representatives of theRoyal Malaysian Policeand the Armed Forces gathered at the National Monument inLake Gardensto lay wreaths and pay homage to Malaysia's fallen heroes. They now gather atMerdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur,or in Kem Perdana inSungai Besi,also in KL (the 2014 event was held there).

Mozambique

Heroes' Day is apublic holidayinMozambiqueon 3 February. It is set to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Portuguese Colonial War.

Namibia

Main article:Heroes' Day (Namibia)

26 August is Heroes' Day in Namibia. It marks the beginning of the armed struggle during theNamibian War of Independence.

Paraguay

Heroes' Day inParaguayis a national public holiday held on 1 March. It commemorates the death of PresidentFrancisco Solano Lópezat thebattle of Cerro Corain 1870, ending theWar of the Triple Alliance.

Philippines

Main article:National Heroes Day (Philippines)

National Heroes' Day(Filipino:Araw ng mga Bayani) is anational public holiday in the Philippinesobserved every last Monday in Augustto mark the anniversary of theCry of Pugad Lawin,the beginning of thePhilippine Revolutionby theKatipunanand itsSupremoAndrés Bonifacioin 1896.This holiday was originally kept on the last Sunday of August in 1931, but in 2007 was moved to its present date byPresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyoto reduce work disruptions, allow for longer weekends, and boost domestic tourism and businesses.

Romania

Heroes' Day inRomaniais celebrated on the 40th day (Feast of the Ascension) from the Orthodox Easter. It is a national holiday;observed with military and religious festivities at the monuments dedicated to the national heroes (such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier).

Rwanda

National Heroes' Day is apublic holidayinRwandaon 1 February.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

National Heroes Dayis a holiday inSaint Kitts and Nevisthat is observed annually on 16 September. It honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the nation. There are currently five national heroes:Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw,Paul Southwell,Joseph Nathaniel France,Simeon DanielandKennedy Simmonds.

• The holiday was established in 1996 by the Saint Kitts and Nevis Federal Parliament with the passage of theNational Honours Act.The first observance of the holiday was on 16 September 1998 to honourRobert Llewellyn Bradshaw,the firstPremierof Saint Kitts and Nevis and a former labour activist.The holiday is observed on his birthday.
• In 2004, former Premier and Chief MinisterPaul Southwell,and former Social Services Minister and trade unionistJoseph Nathaniel France,were also affirmed as National Heroes by theNational Assembly.In 2013, the firstPremier of Nevis,Simeon Daniel,was added to the list of National Heroes.
• In 2015,Kennedy Simmonds,the firstPrime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis,became the fifth person to be named as a National Hero.He is the first living person to receive this honour.

Somaliland

National Heroes Day is a holiday inSomalilandthat is observed annually on 17 October, and has been a public holiday since 2018.

South Africa

Main article:Heroes' Day (South Africa)

Heroes' Day, also known as Kruger Day, was celebrated in theSouth African Republicand later in theRepublic of South Africauntil 1994.

Sri Lanka

National Heroes Day in Sri Lanka is celebrated every 22 May. It has been celebrated since 1818 Kandyan rebellion against British invasion in Sri Lanka. This year (2013), 195th commemoration of National Heroes Day of Sri Lanka was held by the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan Government.

Turks and Caicos Islands

In theTurks and Caicos Islands,National Heroes' Day takes place on the last Monday in May.

Uganda

Heroes' Day inUgandatakes place every 9 June.

United Kingdom

TheUnited Kingdomfirst celebrated a National Heroes Day in 2011, on 21 October (the same day as the victory atBattle of Trafalgar). It was founded by Danny Glavin, a teacher fromFareham, Hampshire.After hearing about the tragic death of his childhood friend whilst serving in Afghanistan, he decided to fund-raise for a military charity in his memory. The day was endorsed by Prime MinisterDavid Cameron.Now Glavin has founded The Inspiration Federation and coordinates the Heroes Day Educational Programme within schools across the United Kingdom.

Zambia

Heroes' Day inZambiais a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in July annually. Heroes Day is a memorial day for those who perished during the independence struggles.Unity Day,also a public holiday, occurs the next day, celebrating a country with over 70 languages and dialects, united into one nation.

Zimbabwe

Heroes' Day inZimbabweis a public holiday observed on the second Monday of August each year.This is a day to remember those who died during the liberation war or those who were declared National Heroes when they died and are buried at the National shrine, The National Heroes Acre in Harare. There are also 10 Provincial Heroes Acres where those who have not been accorded the highest honour but are recognised for the role they played during the Liberation War and are buried in the Provinces they would have come from.