When is Liberian Independence Day?
This national holiday in Liberia is celebrated on July 26th each year.
This is the National Day of Liberia and commemorates Liberia's Independence from the USA and adoption of the constitution on July 26th 1847.
History of Liberian Independence Day
The Republic of Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society (ACS), who believed black people would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the United States.
Between 1822 and 1861, thousands of free blacks were relocated to the settlement at Cape Mesurado on the Pepper Coast of West Africa. In 1824 the colony was named Liberia, and the main settlement was named Monrovia, which remains the present-day capital.
Did You Know?
Monrovia is named in honour of U.S. President James Monroe, who supported the colonization of Liberia by the American Colonization Society. This makes it the only other national capital to be named after a U.S. President; Washington, D.C. being the other.
The settlers faced immense hardships in the initial years with atrocious mortality rates due to disease and conflict with the indigenous peoples. Within twenty years, the colony had grown and established economic stability.
On July 26th 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and promulgated a constitution. The constitution was heavily based on the United States Constitution and established the independent Republic of Liberia. The United Kingdom was the first country to recognize Liberia's independence, the United States only recognized Liberia's independence in 1862 during the American Civil War.
Liberia was the first African republic to proclaim its independence, and is Africa's first and oldest modern republic, maintaining independence despite the colonial expansion in Africa in the late nineteenth century.
The Star and Stripes
The Liberian flag is based on the flag of the united States and was adopted on July 26th 1847. It has 11 horizontal red stripes representing the 11 men who signed the Liberian Declaration of Independence. The single star represents African freedom.
Under the "Energetic and Social Observances Law", Title 26, Liberian Code of Laws of 1956, July 26th every year is put aside as an open holiday to be known as "Independence Day" and fittingly celebrated.
Each year, the President makes a proclamation for the holiday, usually a few days before July 26th.
Did you know?
The current president of Liberia is George Weah, who was the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995.
Sources: Wikipedia, Complete Flags of the World, The Executive Mansion, Encyclopaedia Brittanica
