Republic Day (Armenia)

Republic Day
Republic Day celebrations in May 1919.
Official name Հանրապետության օր
Also called National Day
Observed by  Armenia
Significance Commemorates the founding of the First Armenian Republic.
Celebrations Military parades, ceremonies
Date May 28
Next time 28 May 2019 (2019-05-28)
Frequency annual
Related to Independence Day (Armenia)

Republic Day (Armenian: Հանրապետության օր) is a national holiday in Armenia marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic in 1918. It is commonly celebrated with fireworks, concerts, torchlight marches, parades, and parties. It is considered to be the national day of Armenia.

History

Republic Day celebrations in 1919.

Shortly after the start of WW1 the Ottoman Empire began forcible expulsion of Armenians from the empire. Women, children and elderly people were forced to leave Armenia and go to Syria and Russia. 1 to 1.5 million people were killed in what is now known as the Armenian Genocide. Following the genocide, the Armenian National Council Declared its sovereignty on 28 May 1918. Armenia was proclaimed an independent republic on May 28, 1918. The republic immediately experienced massive hunger, and a massive influx of refugees. The republic was short lived, and as of December 2, 1920, the Red Army entered Armenia and it was proclaimed it a Soviet Republic. Armenia regained its independence as the current Republic of Armenia in 1991.[1][2] The Republic of Armenia celebrated its first Republic Day with a parade on Republic Square, led by Lieutenant General Norat Ter-Grigoryants.

Festivities

The Republic Day celebrations conicide with the anniversary of the Battle of Sardarabad, which pushed the invading Ottoman Army out of Armenia. Every year, the President of Armenia, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President of Artsakh visits the Sardarapat Memorial to lay a wreath at the monument. Many cultural and military events also take place on Republic Day.

100th Anniversary

100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia
Հայաստանի Առաջին Հանրապետության 100-ամյակը
Date 28 May 2018 (2018-05-28)
Location Armenia
Also known as Century of Victories
Participants Armenian citizens
Armenian Diaspora

2018 marked the centennial of the founding of the First Armenian Republic. Armenia will spend 618 million Dram (US$1.285) on events marking the anniversary.[3]

The ceremonies were attended by the President Armen Sarkissian, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan, and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.[4][5]

A ceremonial military parade was held at the memorial, which featured hundreds of soldiers dressed in military uniforms from the First Armenian, Soviet Army uniforms from World War II, as well as veterans of the Nagorno-Karabakh War.[6]

References

  1. ↑ http://calendr.net/holiday/789
  2. ↑ http://panarmenian.net/m/arm/news/109370
  3. ↑ http://hetq.am/eng/news/85987/armenia-will-spend-$1285-million-to-celebrate-100th-anniversary-of-first-republic.html
  4. ↑ https://news.am/eng/news/453469.html
  5. ↑ https://news.am/eng/news/453570.html
  6. ↑ https://massispost.com/2018/05/armenia-celebrates-100th-anniversary-of-first-republic/
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