Heroes' Day

Heroes' Day
Observed by	18 countries
Type	National
Date	Various
Frequency	Annual

Heroes' Day or National Heroes' Day may refer to a number of commemorations of national heroes in different countries. It is often held on the birthday of a national hero or heroine, or the anniversary of their great deeds that made them heroes.

National Heroes' Day in Angola

National Heroes Day in Angola is a holiday in Angola on 17 September, the birthday of the national hero Agostinho Neto.

National Heroes Day in the Bahamas

National Heroes Day in the Bahamas has been a public holiday since 2013. It replaced Discovery Day, which celebrated the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas.

National Heroes' Day in Barbados

National Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Barbados on April 28.

Heroes' Day in Cape Verde

Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Cape Verde on 20 January. It commemorates the 1973 assassination of Amílcar Cabral, who is remembered as a hero for fighting western colonialism and exploitation.

Heroes' Day in the 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. and William Warren Conolly.

Heroes' Day in East Timor

December 7 is National Heroes Day in East Timor.

Heroes' Day in Indonesia

Main article: Heroes Day (Indonesia)

Hari Pahlawan is observed every 10 November to commemorate heavy fighting between Indonesian nationalist militias and British Allied forces at Surabaya, East Java on 10 November 1945. This was the first large-scale international armed conflict involving Indonesia after its Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945.

Heroes' Day in Jamaica

Heroes' Day in Jamaica is a holiday celebrated on the 3rd Monday every October. It commemorates seven national heroes from Jamaican history.

Heroes' Day in Kenya

Main article: Heroes' Day (Kenya)

Mashujaa Day is a national holiday in Kenya, which is celebrated to collectively honour all those who contributed towards the struggle for Kenya's independence. It is observed on 20 October.

Heroes' Day in Mozambique

Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Mozambique on 3 February.

Heroes' Day in Namibia

Main article: Heroes' Day (Namibia)

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

National Heroes' Day in the Philippines

National Heroes Day is a national public holiday in the Philippines to honor the country's heroes (unspecified) and is held on the last Monday of every August to mark the anniversary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin, the beginning of the Philippine Revolution by the Katipunan and its Supremo Andrés Bonifacio in 1896.

Heroes' Day in Romania

Heroes' Day in Romania is celebrated on the 40th day from the Orthodox Easter. Not a public holiday; observed with military and religious festivities at the monuments dedicated to the national heroes (such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier).

Heroes Day in Rwanda

Heroes Day is a public holiday in Rwanda on 1 February.

National Heroes Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Main article: National Heroes Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

National Heroes Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis takes place on 16 September, the birthday of national hero Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.

Heroes' Day in South Africa

Main article: Heroes' Day (South Africa)

The day was celebrated in the South African Republic and later in the Republic of South Africa.

National Heroes' Day in Sri Lanka

National Heroes Day in Sri Lanka is celebrated every 28 November. 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.

National Heroes' Day in Turks and Caicos Islands

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

Heroes' Day in Uganda

Heroes' Day in Uganda takes place every 9 June.

National Heroes Day in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom first celebrated a National Heroes Day in 2011, on 21 October (the same day as the victory at Battle of Trafalgar). It was founded by Danny Glavin, a teacher from Fareham, 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 Minister David Cameron. Now Glavin has founded The Inspiration Federation and coordinates the Heroes Day Educational Programme] within schools across the United Kingdom.

Heroes' Day in Zambia

Heroes' Day in Zambia is a public holiday observed on the first Monday of July. The day honors citizens accorded the status of heroes and heroines. However, this day is more correlated to the Zambia International Trade Fair on which, including Unity Day, employees rest. It is a memorial day for those who perished during the independence struggles.

National Heroes' Day in Zimbabwe

Heroes' Day in Zimbabwe is a public holiday observed on the second Monday in August.