Hailing freedom
As Fourth of July approaches, a look at other independence celebrations around the world
We all desire freedom — whether it’s the freedom to go to bed as late as we want or the freedom for a country to be governed as its people see fit. Freedom of choice, freedom of thought and freedom of belief are all basic human rights.
And yet how often in our history has freedom been denied to a people, a race or a country? Almost every country in the world has at some point or another been usurped, exploited and colonized by some foreign power. And almost all of those countries have, with the strength and motivation born from a collective thirst for freedom, come together and rebelled against their oppressors to gain freedom. Some countries are still not free to govern themselves, or are so broken and ravaged by warfare that freedom isn’t nearly as important as survival.
As Americans get ready to celebrate our independence on July 4, it is important to remember that our people are not the only ones who have had to fight for — and consequently find ways to celebrate — liberty.
United States: Fourth of July
The United States of America celebrates its independence on the Fourth of July. Though the historical conflict between the people of the 13 colonies and the British was not resolved until the Treaty of Paris in 1783, July 4, 1776, was the day when the Declaration of Independence was approved and adopted. Americans commemorate the day with barbecues, wild firework displays, patriotic sing-alongs and a superfluous amount of red, white and blue.
Mexico: Grito de Dolores
Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16, the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores in 1810. This cry to revolt against the Spaniards was uttered by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the town of Dolores, Guanajuato. Mexico’s independence was not secured until 1821, but it was Hidalgo’s speech that led his people to fight for it. Every year to this day, the Mexican president delivers his or her own version of Hidalgo’s speech on the night of Sept. 15. The next day, the streets of Mexico are filled with food, fireworks, music and dancing, confetti, waving flags, and cries of “¡Viva Mexico!”
Ghana: Independence Day
Ghana, which became independent on March 6, 1957, was the first subSaharan country to gain its independence. Ghana freed itself from British rule under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, who remarked in his independence speech: “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” Following Ghana’s example, more than 30 other African countries struggled for their independence from colonial powers in the following decade. Ghanaians celebrate March 6 with children’s parades, music and jam sessions in the streets.
France: La Fête Nationale
France celebrates its freedom on July 14, the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille in June 1789. Bastille Day commemorates the day that troops of commoners stormed the great prison in a dramatic revolutionary act against the oppressive Bourbon monarchy. It was a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. Every year, the day is celebrated with a grand military parade on the Champs-Élysées.
Many other countries also celebrate their independence with military parades, but the French were the first to do so. There also are special fireworks, as well as balls and parties at fire stations, where the firemen dress up in their uniforms, do live demonstrations, mingle with guests and even strip for money (Talk about freedom!).
Indonesia: Hari Merdeka
Indonesia declared its independence from the Dutch, who had ruled it for more than 300 years, on Aug. 17, 1945. The Netherlands finally accepted that date as Indonesia’s independence day 10 years later. In celebration of this momentous event, Indonesians engage in several community-oriented games. The games include sack races and eating competitions, but the most interesting pastime is playing (or cheering on) a Panjat Pinang competition. The competition consists of a few well-oiled men racing each other to the top of a greased palm tree, where an assortment of prizes, from T-shirts to bicycles, hang. The game symbolizes Indonesia’s struggle for independence. Another popular way to invoke this struggle is to spend the day climbing one of Indonesia’s many mountains and hoisting a flag at the summit as the sun sets.
Israel: Yom Ha’atzmaut
Israel’s independence celebration commemorates the signing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. According to the Hebrew calendar, Yom Ha’atzmaut is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Iyar. At the time, this day corresponded to May 14, but in 2018, it will fall on April 18 on the Gregorian calendar. Like all Jewish holidays, Independence Day begins and ends at sundown. The sunset ceremonies that kick off the celebration are very special, as the sunset that begins Israel’s Independence Day is the same one that ends its Memorial Day. The “switch” between the holidays is enacted by the raising of the flag from half mast to the top of the pole on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The close relationship between the holidays holds an important message: Israelis owe their independence to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their state. The raising of the flag is followed by a torch-lighting ceremony, where one torch is lit for each of Israel’s 12 tribes. Then the festivities commence, with feasting, dancing and the singing of traditional songs.
India: Swatantrata Diwas
India’s independence is celebrated on Aug. 15. It is a commemoration of the day that India gained its independence from the British Empire in 1947. After a struggle renowned for its nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, a morning of peace was attained in 1947 when Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, hoisted the country’s own tricolored flag above the Red Fort in Delhi. Every year since then, the prime minister repeats this iconic hoisting of the flag before joining the day’s festivities, which include parades and pageants, as well as kite flying — a practice that fills the skies with fluttering prayers to freedom.