Happy National Day

History

The term "National Day" (国庆), which originally referred to a joyous event of the state, first appeared in the Western Jin dynasty. The Western Jin writer Lu Ji wrote in his essay On the Five Ranks of Feudal Lords (《五等诸侯论》): "The state's celebrations are enjoyed by it alone, while the burdens of the ruler are shared by none." In China's feudal era, the greatest joyous events of the state were nothing other than the enthronement and birthday of the emperor (during the Qing dynasty, the emperor's birthday was called "Wannian Festival"). Therefore, in ancient China, the accession and birthday of the emperor were called "National Day." Today, the commemorative day marking the founding of a state is called National Day.

• On December 3, 1949, the Fourth Meeting of the Central People's Government Council, acting on a proposal from the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, adopted the Resolution on the National Day of the People's Republic of China, deciding that October 1 of each year, the great day on which the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, shall be the National Day of the People's Republic of China.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the forms of National Day celebrations changed several times.

• In the early years of the New China (1950–1959), large-scale celebrations were held every National Day, along with military parades. In September 1960, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, adhering to the principle of building the country through frugality, decided to reform the National Day system. From 1960 to 1970, grand rallies and mass parades were held in front of Tiananmen every National Day, but no military parade was held.
• From 1971 to 1983, on October 1 each year, Beijing marked National Day with large-scale park festivities and other forms of celebration, without mass parades. In 1984, on the 35th anniversary of the founding of the nation, a grand National Day military parade and mass celebration parade were held. Over the following decade or more, National Day was celebrated in other forms, without further military parades or mass celebration parades. On October 1, 1999, on the 50th anniversary of the nation, a grand National Day military parade and mass celebration parade were held. This was the last large-scale National Day ceremony held by the People's Republic of China in the 20th century.
• Since the founding of New China, there have been 14 military parades at National Day ceremonies: 11 between 1949 and 1959, and three more in 1984 (35th anniversary), 1999 (50th anniversary), and 2009 (60th anniversary).

Origins

National Day is a statutory holiday established by a country to commemorate the state itself.

These are usually the anniversary of the country's independence, the signing of its constitution, the birthday of its head of state, or other anniversaries of great commemorative significance; some are also saint's days of the country's patron saint.

Although the vast majority of countries have similar commemorative days, due to complex political relations, in some countries this holiday cannot be called National Day. For example, the United States has only Independence Day and no National Day, but the two carry the same significance.

In ancient China, the accession and birthday of the emperor were called "National Day."

The bases on which countries around the world set their National Days are wildly diverse. According to statistics, 35 countries worldwide take the date of the state's establishment as National Day. Cuba, Cambodia and others take the day the capital was captured as National Day. Some countries take the day of national independence as National Day.

On January 1, 1804, the people of Haiti annihilated Napoleon's expeditionary force of 60,000 men and declared independence in Port-au-Prince; since then, January 1 of each year has been designated as National Day. Mexico, Ghana and other countries are likewise. Still other countries take the anniversary of an armed uprising as National Day. July 14 is the National Day of France.

On this day in 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille, a symbol of feudal rule, and overthrew the monarchical regime. Some other countries take the day of an important conference as National Day.

The United States takes July 4, 1776, the day the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, as its National Day.

Canada takes July 1, 1867, the day on which the British Parliament passed the British North America Act, as its National Day. Some countries take the birthday of the head of state as National Day, such as Nepal, Thailand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium.

National Day is an important holiday in every country, though its name varies. Many countries call it "National Day" or "National Day," while some call it "Independence Day" or "Independence Festival," and others call it "Republic Day," "Day of the Republic," "Revolution Day," "Liberation Day," "National Revival Festival," "Constitution Day," and so on. Some are named directly after the country followed by "Day," such as "Australia Day" and "Pakistan Day." Some take the king's birthday or accession day as National Day, and when the monarch changes, the specific date of National Day changes accordingly.