Holidays on 21st September

Armenian Independence Day

This is the main state holiday of the country. On 23rd August 1990, the Supreme Council adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia proclaiming the Armenian SSR abolished and the establishment of a Republic of Armenia. On 21st September that year the people of Armenia voted in a referendum to proclaim independence from the Soviet Union.

The following celebratory events are held on the day.

• A national awards ceremony of the President of Armenia for honouring military veterans and honoured citizens.
• Historical events held at primary and secondary schools.
• Special programs in honour of the history of the country.
• An armed forces exhibition is opened to the public.
• Concerts at public squares in Yerevan.

Belize Independence Day

This day was when the country was granted independence from Britain in 1981. The Spanish initially settled there before the British tried to put down roots, and several battles occurred between the two sides. The Spanish finally gave up after the Battle of St George’s Caye in September 1798. It became a British colony in 1840, known as British Honduras, and it formally declared the settlement a British Crown Colony in 1862. It granted self-government in 1964, and on 1st June 1973 it was officially renamed Belize. It was later granted independence, but it wasn’t until 2011 the British fully left as the armed forces stayed on to prevent any military dispute with Guatemala.

International day of Peace

This day was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, and two days later the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire. The UN invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace. There are different themes each year, this year’s being “Shaping Peace Together”.

Zero Emissions Day

This day was started back in 2008 in Nova Scotia, Canada to minimise the use of electricity generated by fossil fuels. The day is used to think about what we cna do to reduce harmful carbon emissions.