Macau S.A.R Establishment Day

Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment (SARE) Day Or Macau S.A.R Establishment Day is a holiday that’s observed annually on December 20th. It commemorates the day when the Chinese Government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau in 1999 after being a possession of Portugal for many years. This day is a day off for the general population, and as a result, most businesses and schools are closed.

This holiday is usually celebrated with parades, fireworks, and people getting together with one another to celebrate the day. This makes it very similar to how Hong Kong celebrates Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day.

The History Of Macau S.A.R Establishment Day

During the 16th century, Macau became a trading post and major settlement of the Portuguese. In 1974, after the Carnation Revolution, Portugal decided it would relinquish its overseas possessions and in 1976, Macau was reclassified as a Chinese territory that was under administration by the Portuguese. In  1987, Portugal and China signed an agreement that made Macau a special administrative region of China. On December 20, 1999, China assumed formal sovereignty over the country.

Interesting Facts About Macau

Below are some interesting facts that we learned about Macau. We hope that everyone reading this holiday will find it as interesting as we do. Let’s take a quick look at them, shall we?

  • Because of annual profits from casino taxes, the government of Macau gives permanent residents about 9,000 patacas ($1200 USD) a year.
  • Macau was the last colony in China.
  • The Historic Center of Macau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Observing  Macau S.A.R Establishment Day

This holiday is celebrated with special events, parades, lectures, and special ceremonies. At the end of the day, the holiday is also celebrated with a special fireworks display. On social media, the word about this holiday is usually spread using the hashtag #MacauSAREDay.

Where is it celebrated?
Macau (Public holiday)
When is it?
This year (2023)
December 20 Wednesday
Next year (2024)
December 20 Friday
Last year (2022)
December 20 Tuesday