Holidays Around The World � Chad Holidays

Chad Celebrates Freedom and Democracy Day

Noel — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:00:25 +0000

Freedom and Democracy Day Date: December 1

Freedom and Democracy Day is a public holiday in Chad.

Freedom and Democracy Day is a national holiday in Chad that falls on December 1. The holiday memorializes the successful ousting of Hissène Habré by Idriss Déby in 1990.

Chad’s Freedom and Democracy Day History

Chad, like the rest of territories held by France in Africa, achieved independence in 1960. The government of President François Tombalbaye was so poor that its survival mainly depended on French help. In 1963, the dissatisfaction of the Muslims from the north first appeared and influenced some revisions in the government. However, this was not sufficient enough to pacify the rebels. So in 1969, Muslim rebels began to infiltrate the north. The attacks from the Muslim guerillas intensified in the following years as they gained military aid from its neighbor, Libya. Tombalbaye’s predicament was made shaky by the drought in the early part of the 1970s. In 1975, Tombalbaye was assassinated.

General Félix Malloum was Tombalbaye’s successor, and he too failed to stop the civil conflict. The war had consumed much of the south by 1979, and Malloum was overthrown. His successor to the presidency was Goukouni Oueddei. The rebels—under the leadership of former defense minister Hissène Habré—were supported by Egypt and Sudan. Libya supported Oueddei against the rebels. Habré restarted his attacks in the later part of 1981 after Libya recalled its forces. In June 1982, Habré forces overran Oueddei’s forces in N’Djamena. In 1983, Oueddei was ousted and thus a new government was formed in the north.

As the civil conflict continued, Oueddei had the support of Libyan troops. Meanwhile, France sent its forces and supplies to help Habré stay in power. Libyan forces were driven out of Chad in the waning part of 1988 as the two nations had stabilized diplomatic relations. Habré was forced out by a rebel group in December 1990. The Patriotic Salvation Movement, under the leadership of General Idriss Déby, had Libyan support. General Idriss Déby became the president. In January 1992, the Deby government claimed to have defeated the rebel forces loyal to Habré. As a safety measure, France provided more troops to the region.

Chad’s Freedom and Democracy Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Government offices and businesses are closed as the country celebrates this auspicious day.

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Chad Remembers the Proclamation of the Republic

Noel — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:00:58 +0000

Republic Day Date: November 28

Republic Day is a public holiday in Chad.

Every year on November 28, Chad celebrates Proclamation of the Republic Day. Chad was part of the many colonies of France in Africa until 1960, the year they gained independence from France and were constituted as a Republic. But Chad has been left torn by civil wars and rebellions, often with clandestine support from the French power.

History of Republic Day

In 1900, the French named Chad as a military territory and its protectorate in Africa. By 1920, France achieved full control of Chad and incorporated it into what was called French Equatorial Africa. For France, Chad wasn’t worth much and was primarily exploited for its cheap untrained labor and cotton. France began a mass production of cotton using the citizens as laborers in 1929. Chad never was much of an investment for the French; they left the whole country almost abandoned without modernizing it or investing in education. After World War II, France gave Chad the status of overseas territory and conceded some liberties to its people. For example, France allowded for the creation of political parties and election of representatives to the Chadian Assembly. Finally, Chad was granted independence from France in August 11, 1960, and François Tombalbaye was named its first president.

Republic Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Chad has been affected by a humanitarian crisis since 2001. According to the United Nations, there are hundreds of thousands of refugees in the country from Darfur and Central Africa Republic along with 170,000 internally displaced Chadians. Even so, holidays in Chad are celebrated with fun and joy. Republic Day is celebrated in a traditional way, and people from the different religions—from Christians to Muslims—are united in the celebration of Chad’s proclamation as a free Republic. The day may be celebrated by local communities with political assemblies and sports like football.

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Chad Independence Day

Noel — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:34 +0000

Independence Day Date: August 11

Chad celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

An Independence Day is celebrated annually, remembering the nation’s history of independence from being a territory or colony of another state, with pride and honor. Most of the nations commemorate their liberal statehood on Independence Day and celebrate it as a national holiday.

Chad Independence Day History

Chad, a central African landlocked country, is sometimes called “dead heart of Africa” because of its desert climate. By the start of the 7th millennium BC, huge human population shifted to the Chadian basin, and a chain of empires and kingdoms ruled and fell in this small African nation. The territorial expansion of France created “Territoire Militaire des Pays et Prtectorats du Tchad” during the beginning of the 20th century. They defeated Rabih az-Zubayr on the 22nd April of1900 to clean up the greatest hindrance to Frances colonization of Chad. It was the year of 1920 when France overpowered the rulers of Chad and conquered it as a portion of French Equatorial Africa.

The characteristics of French rule in Chad were the absence of regulations and policies to unite the colony and indolent modernization. The primal value of Chad to the French sovereign was as a trivial source of amateur labor, and the raw cotton. The French government incorporated the across-the-board cotton production in 1929.

The overall colonial rule in Chad was actually running on a skeleton – staff, and had to depend on the left-over of the civil service if French. In essence, inhabitants of Chad were utterly neglected. French Government’s existence in the north and the east of the continent was also minimal. The major victim of this neglected administration was the poor educational status of Chad.

By the end of the Second World War, Chad was given the privilege of overseas territory by the French Government, and the people of Chad got the right to cast their votes for the election of the representatives to the National Assembly of France and a Chadian assembly as well. Still, it really was not enough against the contribution of 15000 Chadian soldiers, who exchanged blows for Free France during the Second World War. Thus gradually, the largest political party in Chad grown up in the name of Chadian Progressive Party, which was based in the south of Chadian colony. Francois Tombalbaye evolved as the great leader of this party and Chad paved the way to her Liberty from the French Colonization with his enormous leadership on August 11, 1960. He was the first president of Chad.

Chad Independence Day Traditions and Activities

Although Chad achieved her liberty on August 11, 1960, the Independence Day of Chad is celebrated on January 11 to avoid the monsoon in August. Like most of the countries,

Chad also celebrates the Independence Day as a national holiday. The Republic of Chad shares a huge diversity of people with different languages and culture. Still, on the Independence Day, every individual in this African country celebrates their liberty through sports like football and wresting, political assemblies. Delegations from different First world countries also visit here on the Independence Day.

Thus, the Independence Day of Chad not only commemorates the great history of this African nation, but also binds the heart of every individual of Chad through a gala of united nationhood, irrespective of their genre and culture.

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African Liberation Day on the African continent

Carol — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:26:12 +0000

African Liberation Day: May 25

African Liberation Day is a public holiday in Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Africa celebrates the anniversary of the historic founding of Organization of African Unity (OAU), a day that is known all throughout the African world as African Liberation Day. Just like in other countries across the continent, African Liberation Day is celebrated annually every 25th of March.

History of African Liberation Day

The first pan-African meeting was held in Accra, Ghana where African leaders from independent states in Africa including Egypt, Sudan, Ghana, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana, Libya, Cameroon, Morocco, and Algeria (representatives from National Liberation Front) have come together to call for universal independence of other African countries which were still under foreign control.

The conference led to the establishment of African Freedom Day, a holiday that reflects the march to freedom of African nations still under colonial status.

A little five years after the conference took place, a conference was again held on May 25, 1963 and attended by 32 independent African States and formed the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Organization of African Unity (OAU) promotes oneness among African nations and their people and calls for the liberation of African nations by their colonial masters. Along with this meeting is the establishment of African Liberation Day, formally replacing African Freedom Day.

African Liberation Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

The African Liberation Day in Chad is celebrated with sports and dance contests. Musical activities are also organized at N’Djamena, the country’s capital. African Liberation Day is one of the most important holidays in many African countries and is considered a day of no work.

Other interesting posts:

Labour Day; May Day; Workers’ Day; Day of Kazak

Noel — Sun, 01 May 2011 06:00:14 +0000

May Day Date: May 1

May Day is celebrated throughout most of the world as a public holiday.

May 1 is considered as the Labour Day by almost all the nations of the world. The workers of the world celebrate this as an annual holiday. This day is the result of a massive labor union movement; this day celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers. This day is also known as May Day. Not only these two names, May 1 has many other names like Worker’s day, National Unification Day, Day of Kazak people’s Unity, Eid el-Ommal, etc.

History of May Day/Labour Day

The Eight-Hour day movement is the origin of the Labour Day. This movement advocated eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of recreation for workers everywhere. It was a revolution in that period.

In Europe, this day has a much older significance. This day is celebrated as a rural festival, which is primarily more important than the Labour Day movement. This is now an international holiday and various countries hold multi-day celebrations. Some of the countries conduct parades, patriotic and labour oriented events, and shows and other events on this day. On the other hand, in Northern Europe, Walpurgis Night is on this scheduled night, and this holiday combines with the Labour Day in some nations.

Although, May 1 is considered as the Labour Day in various nations, Germany celebrates it on May 2. In 1933, Labour Day was established as an official holiday after the Nazi Party came to power. It was expected that this day would prove to be the symbol of the newfound unity between the state and the people. The next day, that is on May 2, all the free unions were prohibited and outlawed by the Nazis. Yet, since workers celebrated the holiday for numerous decades before any official state approval, the Nazi Party’s endeavor to appropriate it left no more term offense.

Although this day has many names, but the essence of them all is the same – to honor the work force of the nation.

May Day/Labour Day Traditions and Celebrations

Time has changed; so the way of celebrating the day too. Throughout the rest of the world, there are May Day marches and rallies held out in the various part of the country. In England, a grand May Day march at the the famous Brewhouse Yard gardens starts near the Castle, Nottingham.

Even today celebration of May Day has a touch of ancient culture and tradition. The maypole is still one of the major features of the May festivities with distinctive interpretations. But whatever way you look at it the theme of the May Day celebration is all about celebrating the renewal of life with new hopes, new dreams and new resolutions. May Day flower baskets are made and treats are left at the thresholds of the loved ones as a token of good wishes and love to strengthen the bondage and to rekindle the lost touches.

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New Year

Noel — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:41:57 +0000

New Year Date: January 01

New Year Day is celebrated worldwide.

New Year is an extravagantly celebrated festival in all the cultures in the world. Each culture celebrates New Year according to their calendar. Countries which follow the Gregorian calendar celebrate New Year on January 1st every year which is considered the most festive day amongst all the other days of the year.

New Year History

During the Roman period the New Year was celebrated on the first day of March. Later in 47 BC, Julius Caesar made changes in the calendar and named it the Julian calendar. Marco Antonio and Augustus Caesar later modified the calendar in 44 BC and 8 BC respectively. Finally in the late 1582, Pope Gregory XIII modified the calendar to the form of the one that we all use these days.

January 1st is the first day in this calendar and is celebrated with great significance to it. The expansion of the Western culture all over the world then made January 1 a universally celebrated festival. The New Year which is celebrated worldwide is celebrated with huge fireworks and balloons etc. People wish each other for a very healthy and a prosperous year ahead.

Previously, in Jewish tradition, honey is used to represent a sweet New Year ahead, Rosh Hashana (New Year celebrations in the Jewish tradition). As the traditional meal for that holiday, apple slices are dipped in honey and eaten after a prayer and with blessings recited for a good, prosperous and sweet new year. Some Rosh Hashana greetings show an apple and honey, symbolizing the feast. In some other Jewish communities, small straws of honey are given out to usher in the New Year. The New Year feast which is always followed by the Christmas celebrations, the last week of the year is considered as a week of enjoyment and celebration in the winter season.

Many countries celebrate the New Year in a very grand way. This celebration usually consists of fireworks display and other parades and festivities. For example, London has a major fireworks display along the River Thames, followed by a parade on New Year’s Day. Once, Sydney which had more than half a million people present to witness the celebrations of New Year launched more than 80,000 fireworks at midnight. It was the highest watched celebration on tele-vision worldwide. In Valparaiso more than two million visitors witnessed the huge fireworks in a natural setting. A total of more than 21 kilometers of fireworks were set up on the bay, starting from the commercial port city of Valparaiso to Concon, Chile. These all were set up for 25 minutes of entertainment.

New Year Traditions and Activities

Usually in New York, the celebration is focused around a large crystal ball that slowly descends in a ten second countdown in Times Square, and last year was also the party with the largest number of attendees with more than three million people witnessing the New Year celebrations. Edinburgh plays host to one of the world’s largest Hogmanay (meaning ‘the last day of the year’) events. Celebration here lasts for four days and visitors from all around the globe are attracted to take part in the street parties and festivities, and attend the concerts which take place during midnight.

Important Facts about New Year

New Year is the only festival which is celebrated worldwide. Even though there is no special history behind the festival, all people around the world look forward for this celebration. New Year is a festival in which something innovative and better is done each and every year.

New Years Day is also known as:

New Year Celebrations
New Year Holidays