Falkland Day
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago located on the Patagonian Shelf in the South Atlantic Ocean. They remained uninhabited until the establishment of Port Louis on East Falkland by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1764. Falklands Day is a holiday that commemorates the first sighting of the Falkland Islands by John Davis in 1592.
Falkland Islands (Observance)This holiday was observed on August 14th but has since been replaced by Liberation Day—a holiday that falls on the same date. Although Falklands Day is not a public holiday, Liberation Day is, so government agencies, schools, and many businesses are closed.
The History of Falkland Day in the Falkland Islands
In August 1592, John Davis sighted the Falkland Islands. This day was initially established as a holiday when the islands were under British rule and was recognized as a national holiday. However, this holiday is no longer celebrated.
In fact, the celebration of Falkland Day ended in 2002. This is when the Executive Council removed the holiday to make room for Peat Cutting Monday on the public holiday calendar for the Falkland Islands. Instead, Liberation Day is celebrated on August 14th each year, and this holiday is a public holiday.
Observing Falkland Day in the Falkland Islands
As stated above, Falkland Day is a holiday that has not been celebrated for quite some time. However, Liberation Day is celebrated, and it is recognized as a public holiday. This means that it is a day off for the general public, and schools, businesses, and government agencies are closed. It also means that a variety of parades, festivals, exhibitions, and other special events are held on this day.
Falkland Islands (Observance)
