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Youth Day or National Youth Day is a commemorative holiday in honour of young people, celebrated in different parts of the world on various dates throughout the year.
Many countries' observance of the day corresponds with International Youth Day on August 12, which has been officially recognized by the United Nations since 1999. [1] There is also a World Youth Day, an event organized by the Catholic Church that takes place on the Sunday before Advent, and was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Country/Culture | Date | Info | Refs |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | December 8 | In Albamia, National Youth Day (Albanian : Dita Kombëtare e Rinisë) was ratified by Albanian Parliament (2010) as an official and national holiday. | |
Angola | April 14 | Angola observes Youth Day on April 14 in memory of Hoji-ya-Henda, who was killed on that day during the Portuguese Colonial War. [2] [3] | [4] |
Azerbaijan | February 2 | In Azerbaijan, the observance is called the Day of Youth. | |
Bahamas | October (month) | Rather than a singular day, The Bahamas celebrates National Youth Month. | [5] |
Brazil | March 21 | ||
Cameroon | February 11 | National Youth Day in Cameroon has been celebrated on February 11 since 1966. [6] | [7] |
Cape Verde | June 1 | [8] | |
China | May 4 | Youth Day (Chinese :青年节) in China was established in December 1949 by the Government Administration Council to commemorate the patriotic May Fourth Movement in 1919, in which many young intellectuals protested against imperialists. | [9] |
India | January 12 | National Youth Day in India is celebrated on January 12 on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. | |
Iran | Varies | Youth Day is celebrated in Iran on 11th Shaban (Hijri Ghamari) on the birthday of Hazrat e Alie Akbar (first son of Imam Hossein). After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Islamic government endeavored to replace most of the national days with religious events. | |
Kiribati | First Friday of August | Youth Day is celebrated on the first Friday of August in Kiribati. | |
Morocco | August 21 | Youth Day is a public holiday in Morocco on August 21, the birthday of the reigning monarch, Mohammed VI of Morocco. | |
Nigeria | November 1 | President Muhammadu Buhari established National Youth Day in 2020 to find solutions to the issues that affect young people. It is held on November 1. [10] | |
Pakistan | March 11 | ||
Palau | March 15 | Youth Day is a work-free public holiday in Palau, and is one of the most important holiday celebrations in the island nation. It was created in order to help integrate the youth in public service early on "in order to help them become better decision-makers in the future and to create a reservoir of highly-intellectual pool of educated men in the country." [11] | [11] |
Paraguay | September 21 | Youth and Spring Day (Día de la Primavera y la Juventud) is celebrated on September 21 in Paraguay, which marks the start of the spring season. | |
Philippines | August 12 | Educational institutions are mandated to launch related activities provided that these will be undertaken at the discretion of the school administration. [12] | [13] [12] |
Singapore | First Sunday of July | In Singapore, Youth Day is celebrated on first Sunday of July every year, where the following day will normally be a scheduled school holiday. (Original date: 4 July) | |
South Africa | June 16 | Youth Day on June 16 is a public holiday in South Africa and commemorates a protest which resulted in a wave of protests across the country known as the Soweto uprising of 1976. | [14] |
Taiwan | March 29 | In Taiwan, Youth Day (青年節) is celebrated on March 29 in commemoration of the Huanghuagang Uprising of 1911. (Not to be confused with Taiwan Youth Day.) | [15] |
Thailand | September 20 | National Youth Day (Thai : วันเยาวชนแห่งชาติ, Wan Yaowachon Haeng Chat) in Thailand, on September 20, commemorates the birth dates of Kings Chulalongkorn and Ananda Mahidol. Thailand celebrates Youth Day on this date because of the many births in the month of September. | |
Turkey | May 19 | Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkish : Atatürk'ü Anma, Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) on May 19 commemorates the youth, as well as Kemal Atatürk, the "Father of Turkey". | |
Tunisia | March 21 | Youth Day is celebrated on March 21 in Tunisia just after celebration of their independence. | [16] |
Ukraine | August 12 | Before 2022, Youth Day in Ukraine was celebrated on the last Sunday of June. [17] [18] [19] The date was moved to August 12, the day of International Youth Day, in 2021 "in order to support the desire of Ukrainian youth to integrate into the European community, affirm the values of democracy and freedom, as well as taking into account the initiative of youth organizations and movements." [17] | [17] |
Venezuela | February 12 | Youth Day in Venezuela was created to commemorate all the teenagers above 12 years old who fought and died in the Battle of La Victoria (1812), during the Venezuelan War of Independence, on February 12, 1814. [20] | [21] |
Vietnam | March 26 | ||
Yugoslavia (former) | May 25 | Youth Day was celebrated throughout the former Yugoslavia on May 25, as well as being a celebration of Josip Broz Tito's birthday. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Youth Day continues to be celebrated in Tito's birthplace of Kumrovec, gathering several thousand visitors annually. | [22] |
Zambia | March 12 | Youth Day in Zambia recalls the day in 1962 when young people were killed during the independence movement. The day celebrates young people and their contribution to development. It recognizes that the young people are the future leaders and must be treated as such. [23] | [24] |
Zimbabwe | February 21 | Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day is February 21. | [25] |
United Nations | August 12 | International Youth Day | |
Catholics | Sunday before Advent | World Youth Day |
Youth Day in India is celebrated on January 12 on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda.
In 1984, the Government of India declared and decided to observe the Birthday of Swami Vivekananda (12 January, according to the English calendar) as National Youth Day every year from 1985 onwards. To quote from the Government of India's Communication, ‘It was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.’
Swami Vivekananda's Birthday, according to Indian Almanac (Vishuddha Siddhanta Almanac) is on Pausha Krishna Saptami tithi, which falls on different English Calendar dates every year. This is observed in various centres of Ramakrishna Math and Mission in a traditional Hindu manner which includes mangalarati, special worship, homa (fire-ritual), meditation, devotional songs, religious discourses, sandhyarati (versper service in the evenings), and so on.
The National Youth Day is observed all over India at schools and colleges with processions, speeches, recitations, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yogasana presentation, competitions in essay-writing, recitations, speeches, music, sports, and other programs on 12 January every year dunce.
Philippine president Elpidio Quirino first issued in 1948 a proclamation designating June 19 as Filipino Youth Day, coinciding with the birth anniversary of hero Jose Rizal, whose works had inspired the Filipino youths to serve the country. [26] Educational and religious institutions, as well as civic organizations and local communities, are encouraged to join in that observance [27] which is being commemorated until now. [28]
August 12 annually was later declared as the National Youth Day in consonance with the United Nations' international commemoration, by virtue of Republic Act No. 11913, one of the three bills for the youth which lapsed into law in July 2022. [13] Educational institutions are mandated to launch related activities provided that these will be undertaken at the discretion of the school administration. [12]
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines began its own National Youth Day in 1986 [29] with the declaration of December 16 as such, [30] to implement its preferential apostolate for children and youth. [29] Since 1987, celebrations are being held with gatherings in various dioceses and parishes, [29] annually until 1998 when it has been held every 2–3 years. The one which would be held in 2021 was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic, delayed until 2025. [30]
Youth Day on 16 June is a public holiday in South Africa and commemorates a protest which resulted in a wave of protests across the country known as the Soweto uprising of 1976. [14] It came in response to multiple issues with the Bantu Education Act and the government edict in 1974 that Afrikaans will be used as medium of instruction for certain subjects in black schools. The iconic picture of Hector Pieterson whose sister now works at a museum which honours Hector Peterson and his family claim that the apartheid regime spelled his name wrong, a black schoolchild shot by the police, brought home to many people within and outside of South Africa the effect of the struggle during the Apartheid government's reign. It is celebrated as a public holiday across South Africa to remember the brave students who protest against Afrikaans as the only medium of language for education.
Youth Day (青年節) in Taiwan (officially the Republic of China) has been celebrated on March 29 [15] since 1954. It commemorates the Huanghuagang Uprising of 1911, during which 72 young revolutionaries sacrificed their lives to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. The Uprising took place on April 27 (the 29th day of the 3rd month in Chinese Calendar), 1911 and is subsequently known as 3.29 Guangzhou Uprising. This event also marked the last unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Qing before the Wuchang Uprising overturned millennia of dynastic rule in China to establish the Republic of China.
In Turkey, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Turkish : Atatürk'ü Anma, Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı) on May 19 is dedicated to the youth, as well as commemorating Kemal Atatürk, the "Father of Turkey", and the beginning of the national liberation movement initiated by Atatürk in 1919
The day is celebrated in honor of the arrival of Atatürk to Samsun on May 19, 1919, when the Turkish War of Independence began.
Youth Day was celebrated throughout the former Yugoslavia on May 25. This was also a celebration of Josip Broz Tito's birthday. Even though Tito was born on May 7, 1892, this date was chosen in remembrance of the Operation Rösselsprung in 1944, a Nazi attempt on his life on the date of birth listed on his forged personal documents. In the weeks preceding the festival, youth ran a relay around the country, and on his birthday Tito was ceremonially presented with the baton. The baton, which had passed through all major cities, contained a symbolic birthday message, ostensibly from the youth of the whole country.
After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Youth Day continues to be celebrated in Tito's birthplace of Kumrovec, gathering several thousand visitors annually. [22]
World Youth Day – observed by the Catholic Church
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, depending on climate and suitable planting season.
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.
Father's Day is a holiday honoring one's father, or relevant father figure, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the United States, Father's Day was founded in the state of Washington, United States, by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910.
Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. It was first inaugurated in the 15 republics of the Soviet Union following the signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945. The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin. Although the official inauguration occurred in 1945, the holiday became a non-labor day only in 1965, and only in certain Soviet republics.
Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, held on the second Monday in March. While the date holds some official status in select member states of the Commonwealth, observances of the date are not uniform across the Commonwealth, and the date is not celebrated as a public holiday in most Commonwealth countries.
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Since 1950, it is celebrated on June 1 in many Second World countries. World Children's Day is celebrated on 20 November to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1959. In some countries, it is Children's Week and not Children's Day. The Sikhs celebrate Children Day on 20 December to 27 December. In the U.S., Children's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of June.
Republic Day is the name of a holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they became republics.
The King's Official Birthday is the selected day in most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those countries. It does not necessarily correspond to the date of the monarch's actual birth.
Several nations observe or have observed a Navy Day to recognize their navy.
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the armed forces, or one of their branches, of a sovereign state, including their personnel, history, achievements, and perceived sacrifices. It's often patriotic or nationalistic in nature, carrying propaganda value outside of the conventional boundaries of a military's subculture and into the wider civilian society. Many nations around the world observe this day. It's usually distinct from a Veterans or Memorial Day.
Kumrovec is a village in the northern part Croatia, part of Krapina-Zagorje County. It sits on the Sutla River, along the Croatian-Slovenian border. The Kumrovec municipality has 1,413 residents (2021), but the village itself has only 267 people. The municipality was established on May 6, 1997, after it was split from the municipality of Tuhelj.
Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition and archaeologists, Gautama Buddha, c. 563-483 BCE, was born at Lumbini in Nepal. Buddha's mother was Queen Maya Devi, who delivered the Buddha while undertaking a journey to her native home, and his father was King Śuddhodana. The Mayadevi Temple, its gardens, and an Ashoka Pillar dating from 249 BCE mark the Buddha's birth place at Lumbini.
Heroes' Day or National Heroes' Day may refer to a number of commemorations of national heroes in different countries and territories. It is often held on the birthday of a national hero or heroine, or the anniversary of their great deeds that made them heroes.
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil, Germany and the Philippines. It is also observed in the Dutch town of Leiden and the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Various similarly named harvest festival holidays occur throughout the world during autumn. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.
The Relay of Youth was a symbolic relay race held in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia every year. The relay carried a baton with a birthday pledge to Josip Broz Tito ostensibly from all young people of Yugoslavia. The race usually started in Tito's birth town Kumrovec and went through all major towns and cities of the country. It ended in Belgrade at JNA Stadium on May 25, Tito's official birthday and Day of Youth, a national holiday.
National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is celebrated on 12 January, being the birthday of a Hindu monk, Swami Vivekananda. In 1984, the Government of India declared this day as National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year.
Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world. The 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated all over India and in different countries in the world. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports of India decided to observe 2013 as the year of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Year-long events and programs were organised by different branches of Ramakrishna Math, Ramakrishna Mission, central government and different state governments of India, education institutions, youth groups etc. Bengali film director Tutu (Utpal) Sinha made a film The Light: Swami Vivekananda as a tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his 150th birth anniversary. The movie was released on 23 August 2013.
Swami Vivekananda, the nineteenth-century Indian Hindu monk, is considered one of the most influential people of modern India and Hinduism. Rabindranath Tagore suggested to study Vivekananda's works to learn about India. Indian independence activist Subhas Chandra Bose regarded Vivekananda as his spiritual teacher. Mahatma Gandhi said that after reading the works of Vivekananda, his love for his nation became a thousand-fold.
Swami Vivekananda Youth Employment Week was a weeklong youth employment festival organized in Gujarat, India, in April 2012. During this week, Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, handed job appointment letters to 65,000 youths. The event was organized as a part of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda celebrations in the state.
During the existence of Yugoslavia various public holidays were celebrated throughout or in some parts of the country. The most significant changes in the official calendar occurred in the aftermath of the World War II in Yugoslavia when the pre-war Kingdom of Yugoslavia was succeeded by the new Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia.