William Tubmans Birthday
Observed annually on November 29th in the Republic of Liberia, William Tubman’s Day is a national holiday that honors the longest-serving Liberian president in history, William Tubman, on the anniversary of his birth.
Liberia (Public holiday)Around this holiday, schoolchildren create projects that tell the story of Tubman’s life and political achievements, and some government offices are closed. Since it’s a public holiday, many people have the day off and use it as an opportunity to enjoy an extra day of leisure. Some people also use the holiday to visit friends and relatives.
The History of William Tubman’s Day
William Tubman was born on November 29, 1895, in a town called Harper. He originally pursued a religious life, with plans to become a preacher, but that changed after he took a temporary job in a government office and discovered his calling was in public service. In 1917, he became a lawyer, and then he joined the True Whig Party. By the age of 28, he had become a Liberian senator—the youngest in the country’s history.
In January of 1944, he became Liberia’s 17th president. He would then serve for 27 years until his death on July 23, 1971. He is commonly referred to as the father of modern Liberia. He enacted a number of reforms and social policies, such as establishing a public school system and advocating for women’s suffrage.
Observing William Tubman’s Day
On this holiday, the President of Liberia proclaims this day as a holiday. Usually, this proclamation orders all government agencies to close for the day, and it also typically asks businesses and markets to close as well. People use this holiday as an extra day off or to spend time with loved ones.
It’s also a good day to enjoy Liberian dishes such as peanut soup, rice bread, and torborgee stew. The hashtag #WilliamTubmansDay can be used on social media to spread the word about this holiday.
Liberia (Public holiday)
