When is Constitution Day?
Constitution Day is a national holiday in the Republic of Belarus on March 15th each year.
This holiday marks the approval of the Constitution on this day in 1994.
History of Constitution Day
Three years after Belarus declared its independence from the Soviet Union, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was adopted on March 15th 1994.
It is the first Constitution of independent Belarus and the fifth Constitution of Belarus to be passed after the October Revolution of 1917.
The Constitution has been amended twice since the original adoption, in November 1996 and in October 2004.
The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus is the fundamental law of the state. It is the foundation of the current legislative system and lists the rights and freedoms of Belarusians.
In particular, it guarantees:
- the right to healthcare services (free in state institutions).
- the right to social welfare for the elderly, sick, disabled and non-earning households.
- the right to free general education for all.
- the right to free professional technical training.
In addition, it establishes the equality of the Belarusian and Russian languages – both of them are proclaimed state languages in Belarus.
No large-scale parades are held, but across all towns and cities, houses are decorated with national flags, and concerts are played on TV.
On the eve of Constitution Day, young Belarusians from different parts of the country traditionally received their first passports.
