In Grenada, there are a number of holidays that people celebrate every year. These include religious holidays such as Easter Monday, Emancipation Day, and Christmas. It also includes celebratory holidays such as Thanksgiving, Carnival, and New Year’s Day. However, there is only one holiday that celebrates a single athlete in this country and that day is Kirani Day.
This holiday celebrates the phenomenal athlete Kirani James who won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. He won this medal in the 400-meter competition—a competition that was usually dominated by the U.S. This holiday celebrates that achievement and is observed annually on his birthday every year.
The History Of Kirani Day In Grenada
At the 2012 Olympics in London, 19-year old Kirani James would win the 400-meter run in 43.94-seconds. This made him the very first athlete outside the United States to break the 44-second barrier. But being the first citizen of Grenada to break the 44-second barrier isn’t the only reason that this athlete is celebrated. It was also the country’s first-ever gold medal.
Fun Facts About Kirani James
Below are some of the facts that we’ve learned about Kirani James. We think everyone following this holiday will find the following nuggets of information quite informative, we know we did.
- Kirani James was born in Gouyave, Grenada on September 1st, 1992.
- On August 6th, 2012, he won the Olympic gold in London.
- In 2016, he would win the silver in the Rio Olympics.
- In 2017, he graduated from the University of Alabama in the United States.
Observing Kirani Day In Grenada
Because this holiday isn’t a public one, most businesses, government offices, and schools remain open on this day. It’s also not a day off for the general population. However, it is a day on which there are many different celebratory events celebrated by the people of Grenada. There are parades, festivals, and special parties that highlight and celebrate Kirani’s achievements on this day.
When is Kirani Day? |
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| This year (2023) | September 1 (Friday) |
| Next year (2024) | September 1 (Sunday) |
| Last year (2022) | September 1 (Thursday) |