Independence Day 2024

What is Independence Day?

Independence Day is the name used for several different national holidays. In the United States it is 4 July, the day in 1776 on which the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. In Finland it is 6 December, which marks the 1917 declaration of independence from Russia, and the same day is observed on the Åland Islands. In Estonia it is 24 February, in memory of the declaration of independence in 1918, and in Bulgaria it is 22 September, which marks the declaration of full independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908.

Greece celebrates its Independence Day on 25 March, which marks the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and coincides with the Orthodox feast of the Annunciation. Malta observes it on 21 September, to mark independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, while Montenegro's Independence Day on 21 May recalls the 2006 referendum on leaving the union with Serbia. Customs range from fireworks and barbecues to military parades, wreath-laying and school ceremonies. These examples show how a single name can cover very different histories, from a gradual constitutional change to a sudden political break.

Why it is observed

Independence days tend to commemorate moments of separation from a larger state or empire, and each date has its own story. Some, such as the American one, mark the adoption of a declaration while a war was still in progress. Others, such as Malta's, mark the formal end of colonial rule by agreement, and still others, such as Estonia's or Finland's, mark a declaration made at a time of upheaval at the end of the First World War or the Russian Revolution. For that reason, the history and tone vary a great deal, from celebration to solemn remembrance.

How the date is set

There is no single date. Independence Day is a generic name for the anniversary of a country's independence or the declaration of it, and the date and the history behind it depend on the country. Some countries celebrate the day of a declaration and others the day independence took effect or was recognised.

How it is observed

Where Independence Day is a public holiday, banks, offices and most shops close, and there are often official ceremonies, flag displays and public events, with fireworks in the evening on some dates. In the United States, 4 July is a federal holiday, and when it falls on a weekend the day off moves to the Friday or Monday. Because the date and the customs differ for each country, check the specific holiday page for the country. Pay and time off depend on national law and the contract. Check the country page.