Estonia Flag Day
This celebrates the day the Estonian Students’ Society adopted blue, black and white as the colours of their fraternity on this day in 1884. In 1918 this flag became the national flag.
Emancipation Day
This marks the abolition of slavery of Tonga in 1862, representing a turning point in Tongan history as commoners were freed from the virtual ownership of chiefs. In 1862, Tonga’s first Christian king, George Tupuo I declared the abolition of serfdom in the official emancipation edict as part of his 1862 Code of Laws. “All chiefs and people are to all intents and purposes set at liberty from serfdom, and all vassalage, from the institution of this law; and it shall not be lawful for any chief or person, to seize, or take by force, or beg authoritatively, in Tonga fashion, anything from anyone.”
Another important event was when it declared its independence from Great Britain. It became a protected state under a Treaty of Friendship in May 1900 to fend off European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs who had tried to overthrow the king. This Treaty expired on 4th June 1970 under arrangements established prior to her death by the third monarch, Queen Salote.
Holidays & Special Events 