FlagAndMap Weblog

This year on November 3 the start of the Hindu festival of Diwali coincides with a solar eclipse. It’s appropriate perhaps that this ‘festival of lights’ will begin with the concealing and revealing of our brightest light. Regrettably most Hindus will not see this as the eclipse will occur mainly over the Atlantic and West Africa. Meanwhile Islamic communities welcome in a new year and several other countries celebrate national days in November, as listed below.

Nov 1: State Day in Antigua and Barbuda
Nov 3: Independence Day in Micronesia and Dominica; Separation Day in Panama
Nov 4: New Year in the Islamic calendar; National Day in Tonga
Nov 9: Independence Day in Cambodia
Nov 11: Independence Day in Angola and Poland
Nov 15: Independence Day in Palestine
Nov 18: Independence Day in Latvia and Morocco; National Day in Oman
Nov 19: National Day in Monaco
Nov 22: Independence Day in Lebanon
Nov 25: Independence Day in Suriname
Nov 28: Independence Day in Mauritania and Albania
Nov 30: Independence Day in Barbados; St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland

Several countries have interesting names for their national days but one of our favorites is that of Taiwan – Double Ten Day – which occurs (surprise!) on October 10. Get ready for festivities in October with Croatians, Germans, Nigerians, Ugandans and many more on the dates listed below.

Oct 1: Independence Day in Cyprus, Nigeria, Palau and Tuvalu; National Day in China
Oct 2: Independence Day in Guinea-Conakry
Oct 3: Independence Day in Iraq; Unity Day in Germany
Oct 4: Independence Day in Lesotho
Oct 8: Independence Day in Croatia
Oct 9: Independence Day in Uganda
Oct 10: Double Ten Day in Taiwan; Fiji Day in Fiji; Independence Day in Cuba
Oct 12: Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea; National Day in Spain
Oct 15: Eid al-Adha celebrated by Islamic communities
Oct 19: Constitution Day in Nuie
Oct 23: Liberation Day in Libya
Oct 24: Independence Day in Zambia
Oct 26: National Day in Austria
Oct 27: Independence Day in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Turkmenistan
Oct 28: Independence Day in Czechia
Oct 29: Republic Day in Turkey

August has numerous national holidays around the world (see below) but is also designated a ‘holiday month’ in many European countries. If you’re lucky enough to be lounging in the sun this August share the warmth with any expat friends who might be celebrating on one of the dates listed below.

Aug 1: Independence Day in Benin; National Day in Switzerland
Aug 3: Independence Day in Niger
Aug 5: Independence Day in Burkina Faso
Aug 6: Independence Day in Bolivia and Jamaica
Aug 7: Independence Day in Cote d’Ivoire
Aug 8: Eid al-Fitr celebrated by Islamic communities
Aug 9: National Day in Singapore
Aug 10: Independence Day in Ecuador
Aug 11: Independence Day in Chad
Aug 13: Independence Day in Centrafrique
Aug 14: Independence Day in Pakistan
Aug 15: Independence Day in Congo-Brazzaville and India; Liberation Day in South Korea; National Day in Liechtenstein
Aug 16: Restoration Day in the Dominican Republic
Aug 17: Independence Day in Gabon and Indonesia
Aug 19: Independence Day in Afghanistan
Aug 20: St. Stephen’s Day in Hungary
Aug 24: Independence Day in Ukraine
Aug 25: Independence Day in Uruguay
Aug 27: Independence Day in Moldova
Aug 29: National Uprising Day in Slovakia
Aug 30: Constitution Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Aug 31: Hari Merdeka in Malaysia; Independence Day in Kyrgyzstan and Trinidad and Tobago

If you have friends from England, the Netherlands, South Africa or Tanzania, to name a few, then April would be a very good time to send them greetings, since each of those countries has something to celebrate during that month. Of course April kicks off with April Fools’ Day but you won’t look so foolish if you wish someone from England a happy St George’s Day on April 23. Send a FlagAndMap greeting card with the appropriate national design and you’ll look even smarter. Below is a list of national days in April.

Apr 1: Islamic Republic Day in Iran
Apr 4: Independence Day in Senegal
Apr 15: Independence Day in Israel
Apr 17: Flag Day in American Samoa; Evacuation Day in Syria
Apr 18: Independence Day in Zimbabwe
Apr 23: St. George’s Day in England
Apr 26: Union Day in Tanzania
Apr 27: Freedom Day in South Africa; Independence Day in Togo; Republic Day in Sierra Leone
Apr 30: Queensday in the Netherlands

On December 12th Kenyans celebrate Jamhuri Day, meaning Republic Day, which also commemorates independence from the United Kingdom in 1963. It is Kenya’s most important holiday on which many cultural festivals are held. Celebrate with Kenyans and be dressed for the part with one of our Kenya Flag and Map T-Shirts.

Other notable national days in December are listed below.
Dec 1: National Day in Centrafrique and Union Day in Romania
Dec 2: National Day in the United Arab Emirates and Laos
Dec 5: King’s Birthday in Thailand
Dec 6: Independence Day in Finland
Dec 12: Jamhuri Day in Kenya
Dec 13: Republic Day in Malta and Independence Day in Saint Lucia
Dec 16: Independence Day in Bahrain
Dec 17: National Day in Bhutan
Dec 18: Republic Day in Niger and National Day in Qatar
Dec 20: National Day in Guyane

Among the national days in November, Cambodians celebrate their Independence Day on November 9th, commemorating independence from France in 1953. In the intervening years involvement in the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime have provided little to celebrate but today the country enjoys a measure of stability as a multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Be ready to celebrate with Cambodians on the 9th sporting your own customized version of one of our Cambodia Flag and Map T-Shirts.

Other notable national days in November are listed below.
Nov 1: National Day in Algeria and Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda
Nov 3: Independence Day in Micronesia and Dominica and Separation Day in Panama
Nov 9: Independence Day in Cambodia
Nov 11: Independence Day in Angola and Poland
Nov 18: Independence Day in Latvia and National Day in Oman
Nov 19: National Day in Monaco
Nov 22: Independence Day in Lebanon
Nov 25: Independence Day in Suriname
Nov 28: Independence Day in Mauritania and Albania
Nov 30: Independence Day in Barbados and St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland

October 1st marks several Independence Days including that of Nigeria which commemorates independence from the United Kingdom gained in 1960. Since that time the country has grown to be the most populous country in Africa, with nearly 170 million inhabitants, and benefits from considerable oil wealth, but continues to struggle with ethnic and religious divisions. Share in the festivities with Nigerians on October 1st while wearing one of our customizable Nigeria Flag and Map T-Shirts.

Other notable national days in October are listed below.
Oct 1: Independence Day in Nigeria and Tuvalu, National Day in China and Independence Day in Cyprus
Oct 3: Unity Day in Germany and Independence Day in Iraq
Oct 4: Independence Day in Lesotho
Oct 9: Independence Day in Uganda
Oct 10: Fiji Day in Fiji and Double Ten Day in Taiwan
Oct 12: Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea and National Day in Spain
Oct 23: Republic Day in Hungary
Oct 24: Independence Day in Zambia
Oct 25: Republic Day in Kazakhstan
Oct 26: National Day in Austria
Oct 27: Independence Day in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Turkmenistan
Oct 28: Independence Day in Czechia
Oct 29: Republic Day in Turkey

September 7th is Independence Day in Brazil, commemorating their declaration of independence from Portugal in 1822. Since then Brazil has grown to become almost 20 times more populous and almost 10 times more wealthy than their former colonial rulers. Brazil has a lot to celebrate and you can be sure that they will do it well, so join the party sporting your own personalized version of one of our Brazil Flag and Map T-Shirts.

Other notable national days in September are listed below.
Sep 1: Independence Day in Uzbekistan, National Day in Libya and Constitution Day in Slovakia
Sep 2: National Day in Vietnam
Sep 6: Independence Day in Swaziland
Sep 7: Independence Day in Brazil
Sep 8: Independence Day in Macedonia, National Day in North Korea and Our Lady of Meritxell Day in Andorra
Sep 9: Independence Day in Tajikistan
Sep 12: National Day in Cape Verde
Sep 15: Independence Day in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
Sep 16: Grito de Dolores in Mexico and Independence Day in Papua New Guinea
Sep 18: National Day in Chile
Sep 19: Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Sep 21: Independence Day in Malta and Belize
Sep 22: National Day in Mali
Sep 23: National Day in Saudi Arabia
Sep 24: Independence Day in Guinea-Bissau
Sep 30: Independence Day in Botswana

August is a popular month for independence days – summer must be a good time for uprisings. Chad celebrates its independence on August 11th, commemorating independence from France, which was gained in 1960. However, instability has characterized much of the period since independence and despite the promise of oil wealth Chadians as yet have little to celebrate. Show support for Chad on August 11th by wearing your own customized version of one of our Chad Flag and Map T-Shirts.

Other notable national days in August are listed below.
Aug 1: Independence Day in Benin and National Day in Switzerland
Aug 5: Independence Day in Burkina Faso
Aug 6: Independence Day in Bolivia
Aug 7: Independence Day in Cote d’Ivoire
Aug 9: National Day in Singapore
Aug 10: Independence Day in Ecuador
Aug 11: Independence Day in Chad
Aug 14: Independence Day in Pakistan
Aug 15: Independence Day in Congo-Brazzaville, National Day in Liechtenstein and South Korea and Independence Day in India
Aug 16: Restoration Day in the Dominican Republic
Aug 17: Independence Day in Gabon and Indonesia
Aug 19: National Day in Afghanistan
Aug 20: St. Stephen’s Day in Hungary
Aug 24: Independence Day in Ukraine
Aug 25: Independence Day in Uruguay
Aug 27: Independence Day in Moldova
Aug 29: National Uprising Day in Slovakia
Aug 30: Constitution Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Aug 31: Hari Merdeka in Malaysia and Independence Day in Kyrgyzstan and Trinidad and Tobago

Celebrate July 4th in style by sporting one of our US Flag and Map T-Shirts. The United States has been proudly celebrating their 1776 Declaration of Independence for over 200 years now.

Many other nations have national days in July as listed below.
Jul 1: Canada Day in Canada, National Day in the British Virgin Islands and Independence Day in Burundi and Rwanda
Jul 3: Independence Day in Belarus
Jul 4: Independence Day in the United States
Jul 5: Independence Day in Venezuela
Jul 6: Independence Day in the Comoros and Malawi
Jul 7: Independence Day in the Solomon Islands
Jul 9: Constitution Day in Palau and Independence Day in Argentina
Jul 10: Independence Day in the Bahamas
Jul 11: Naadam Holiday in Mongolia
Jul 12: Independence Day in Kiribati and Sao Tome and Principe
Jul 13: National Day in Montenegro
Jul 14: Bastille Day in France
Jul 20: Independence Day in Colombia
Jul 21: Liberation Day in Guam and National Day in Belgium
Jul 23: Revolution Day in Egypt
Jul 25: Constitution Day in Puerto Rico
Jul 26: Independence Day in Liberia
Jul 28: Independence Day in Peru
Jul 30: Independence Day in Vanuatu