Guyana Independence Day

 

Independence Day is a national holiday in the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana on May 26th.

This holiday commemorates Guyana gaining its independence on May 26th 1966.

Unusually, this is not Guyana's National Day, that takes place on February 23rd marking the country becoming a republic on that date in 1970.

History of Guyana Independence Day

Christopher Columbus was the first European to sight Guyana during his third voyage in 1498. Sir Walter Raleigh reported on the region in 1596, but it was the Dutch who first established colonies, importing African slaves to work on sugar plantations.

The British took control of the Dutch colonies during the Napoleonic Wars, creating a single colony known as British Guiana in 1831.

Trade unions formed after the first world war, with political parties emerging after the second world war along with political awareness and demands for independence.

A new constitution heralded the first elections in 1953 and a degree of self-government by the end of the 1950s.

Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on May 26th 1966.

 

Georgia Independence Day

 

Georgia Independence Day is an annual public holiday in Georgia that is observed on 26 May. It honours the 26th May 1918 adoption of the Act of Independence. The Democratic Republic of Georgia was established on this day in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917. 

History of Georgia Independence Day

26th May marks a very important day in the history of Georgia. Georgia carries a long and rich history, dating back to the 6th century BC. The country has been overrun and occupied by many different empires over the centuries. 

Georgia was annexed by the Russian Empire in the 19th century and its independence journey started with the Russian Revolution in 1917. The revolution began to oppose widespread corruption, growing dissatisfaction among people and the monarchy. 

It began on March 8, 1917, which was during the First World War, and lasted for a few years. After this revolution on this day in 1918, Georgia declared independence. 

However, this independence didn’t last long as Georgia was again invaded by the Soviet Russian army in 1921 and had to incorporate into the newly formed Soviet Socialist Republics.

Forwarding 70 years later, in April 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and Georgia regained independence.  

This is why May 26 continued to be Independence Day and April 9 was declared as the Day of National Unity, Civic Concordance, and Remembrance. Both days are celebrated as national holidays.