Republic Day in Armenia
Republic Day is a public holiday observed annually on May 28th in Armenia. It commemorates the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic in 1918. Also known as the Day of Restoration of Sovereignty, this day is considered the national day of Armenia and is enthusiastically celebrated each year.
It’s not only a day off for the general population—with schools, government offices, and many businesses closed—but it’s also a day on which numerous events occur, such as military parades, political speeches, and cultural events. On this day, there are also torch-lit marches, parties, concerts, and even fireworks.
The History of Republic Day in Armenia
Although Armenia was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century through the 19th century, it eventually came under the control of the Russian Empire. When the Russian Revolution ended the Russian Empire, Armenia declared its sovereignty on May 28, 1918. This restored Armenian statehood after over 600 years of foreign control of the country.
Armenian statehood wouldn’t last very long, however. On December 2, 1920, the Armenian government signed a treaty with the Bolsheviks, and Armenia became a Soviet Republic. The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic would then become a founding member of the Soviet Union in 1922.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Armenia regained its independence on September 21, 1991. It was the first non-Baltic republic to secede from the USSR—an event that is celebrated in Armenia with Independence Day.
Amazing Facts About Armenia
Armenia is one of the oldest countries in the world, so we naturally wanted to find out as much about it as we could while we researched Armenian Republic Day. We found the following facts that we think everyone reading this article will find just as interesting as we did.
- Armenia is a country first mentioned by Greek authors in the 5th century B.C.
- The Armenian alphabet was created in 405 A.D.
- The population of Armenia is around 3 million people.
- Approximately 10 million Armenians can be found around the globe.
Observing Republic Day in Armenia
This holiday is observed with parades, public speeches, and other events all across Armenia. There are also parties, concerts, marches, and fireworks to conclude the day. In other words, it’s a day of celebration and jubilation observed every year.