Every July 4, the United States celebrates its independence with barbecues, fireworks, games, and parades. Here’s a look at other independence days around the world.
A young girl wears flags for a Jamaican independence day parade.
Jamaica
August 6
Jamaica’s independence day is celebrated to commemorate historic battles and fallen heroes. And it also celebrates family, friends, and the natural beauties and bounties of the island. Locals celebrate this day by wearing black, green, and yellow (the colors of the Jamaican flag) and by enjoying parades, traditional dances, and Jamaican cuisine. Some Jamaicans choose to spend an entire week partying, while others choose to spend the time off relaxing with family.
jis.gov.jm/ja50/v2
Mexico
Vendors begin selling Mexian flags early in September.
September 16
Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain by commemorating the beginning rather than the end of its 11-year war with Spain (1810–1821). The night before Mexican Independence Day, the president of Mexico leads El Grito, a shout based on El Grito de Dolores, which began Mexico’s War of Independence. The president shouts lines referring to famous patriots and cities of Mexico, and the crowd answers by yelling “¡Viva!” after each line. This event is televised in cities throughout the country. The following day there are parades, patriotic programs, concerts, and family gatherings with traditional foods.
latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/independenceinmexico/
Brazil
Celebrations in Brazil are never boring and always colorful.
September 7
This day commemorates Brazil’s official declaration of independence from Portugal after more than 300 years of Portuguese rule (ending in 1808). The biggest event of Brazil’s independence day is hosted in Brasilia by the president with a presentation of fireworks and a large military parade for an audience of around 30,000 people. Cities and towns throughout Brazil have their own parades, fireworks, popcorn carts, and general joviality. Many cities around the world also celebrate Brazil Day: Manhattan’s annual Brazil Day street festival is one of the biggest celebrations in the city. These festivals are celebrated with samba dancing and delicious Brazilian cuisine.
riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-entertainment/brazil-celebrates-sete-de-setembro
The Bahamas
A man performing at a Junkanoo parade. The clothing at a Junkanoo is always bright and ornate.
July 10
The Bahamas gained independence from Great Britain in 1973. People in The Bahamas begin celebrating the day up to one week ahead of the actual holiday. Concerts, vibrant fireworks displays, and traditional Junkanoo (parades with extravagant clothing) are commonplace. Among these parades is the Bohemian Tattoo, a military parade honoring soldiers. During the parade, soldiers perform precision military maneuvers in front of huge crowds. Each island comes alive with celebrations to honor its independence.
chiff.com/home_life/holiday/bahama-indep.htm
Brussels has many murals throughout the city, luckily this one has the perfect colors for a shot with Belgium’s flag.
Belgium
July 21
Belgium celebrates its independence from the Netherlands (1831) with a variety of family-friendly activities. The center of the festivities is Brussels, where free games and attractions are set up in Warandepark, the central park. There are also military parades on the street that runs along the south end of the park. Many museums and theaters in Brussels also hold special events. Independence day in Belgium is a time to spend with family and away from work and everyday worries.
youtube.com/watch?v=fVd_Aq3qheM
www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=680
Many Indians outside of India also celebrate Independence Day, this woman is participating in a parade in California.
India
August 15
India’s fight for independence surged after WWII, when India realized that Great Britain no longer had the means to hold the nation in its grasp. India’s prime minister gives a speech the night before each independence day, and flags are hoisted ceremoniously over many houses and public buildings. Most Indians spend the day at home with family or at a restaurant or park. Colorful kites line the sky as many Indians choose to show India’s free spirit by flying kites.
festivals.indobase.com/indian-independence-day
—Michelle May
Photo Credits (from top):
Heidi Schuyt
Ning Fan
Flickr user [xinita]
Flicker user .vini
Flickr user DeuxXFlorida
Antonio Ponte
David Yu
It’s amazing to see how cultures all around the world are celebrating the blessings of independence.
This is an awesome map. I was in Chile for their independence day and they celebrate all week. Great story!
It is so fun to see the different way that people celebrate independence. Sometimes I forget being in America, and it is a wonderful thing to remember and gain insight into.
This is really interesting! I would love to be in another country while they celebrated their independence day.
So fun! I’m glad that so many other nations and people around the world get to enjoy the rights and privileges that come with being a free society.
The 4th of July is my favorite holiday, and I would love to celebrate these other independence days too!
I really like this article, because it’s interesting to see how different cultures celebrate their freedom and independence.
The chant led by the president in Mexico sounds rousing! That would be a cool way to get everyone to feel patriotic and loyal to the president. I also think India’s kite-flying tradition sounds amazing, and I would love to see it.
Also, I wanted to add in response to Hayley that I was in Paris for July 14th once and it was AMAZING! There were tons of events, like an excellent free modern dance concert, and then there were spectacular fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. I would recommend to anyone to go to Paris for Bastille Day. Fighting the crowds is worth it, in my experience.
The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays, but I would love to visit another country for one of their independence celebrations.
The graphic at the top is amazing (the one with the map of the world). And this is a great way to learn to respect other countries. I’d never really thought about other countries having a “fourth of July,” but there are a lot of other countries that have fought for freedom too.