Commencement Day Of Eritrean Armed Struggle
Commencement Day of Eritrean Armed Struggle is a public holiday observed in Eritrea on the 1st of September each year. Also known as Eritrean Revolution Day, this holiday commemorates the beginning of the country’s armed struggle for independence on this date in 1961.
Eritrea (Public holiday)Eritrea is a northeastern African country located on the coast of the Red Sea and shares its borders with Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. It is home to over 6.08 million people, and its struggle for independence lasted for approximately 30 years. This holiday is a public holiday, so businesses and schools are closed, and people have the day off.
The History of Commencement Day of Eritrean Armed Struggle in Eritrea
The area now known as Eritrea was created after Italian colonial expansion into Africa was stopped during the Battle of Adwa in 1869. Ethiopia was added to the colonial area of Italy in 1936 when Italian forces invaded the country.
During WWII, Italy was defeated as part of the Axis powers, so the federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia was enacted according to UN General Assembly Resolution 390 passed in 1952. Originally, Eritrea was supposed to be autonomous within the federation, but that turned out not to be the case, so the Eritrean Liberation Front took matters into their own hands.
The Eritrean Liberation Front, led by Hamid Idris Awate, began its insurrection on September 1st, 1961, at the Battle of Adal. This would begin the Eritrean War for Independence — a conflict that occurred for 30 years until the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Eritrea was overthrown. That occurred on May 24, 1991, and is known as Eritrean Independence Day.
Observing Commencement Day of Eritrean Armed Struggle in Eritrea
This is a public holiday in Eritrea and is observed with a few public events such as parades, festivals, and concerts. However, it is not celebrated as enthusiastically as Independence Day celebrations in the country. People do use the holiday to spend time with friends and family members, however.
Eritrea (Public holiday)
