Holidays and Festivals

Lesotho	Encyclopedia of Days	Libya

Liberia

The Republic of Liberia was founded as a place to send free blacks by the American Colonization Society under the authority of a United States Congressional charter in 1816.The American Colonization Society purchased the land in 1822 from tribal chiefs. The price included a box of beads, three pairs of shoes, a box of soap, one barrel of rum, and twelve spoons. By 1865, 14,000 slaves freed from America, and 6,000 from elsewhere, had settled in Liberia. The official language is English, and the capital of Monrovia is named for James Monroe. Ironically, for a nation settled by freed slaves which forbids slavery in its constitution, the Liberian government was accused of enslaving the tribal people for work on projects domestic and abroad. This was confirmed by the League of Nations in 1930, as was halted by 1931.

Matilda Newport Day, December 1. A festival in honor of a widowed pioneer who lit a cannon with her pipe and saved her country in 1822 when under siege by tribespeople.
Independence Day, July 26. Anniversary of the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia, 1847. Great Britain recognized the nation in 1848. Although Liberia was settled by Americans, the United States did not recognize the nation's independence until 1862.
Pioneers' Day, January 7. Honors the pioneers who came from the United States and elsewhere in the nineteenth century.
President Tubman's Birthday, November 29. Celebrates the birthday of William Tubman (b.1895), president of Liberia for twenty-seven years. Also called Goodwill Day.
Unification and Integration Day, May 14. Dedicated to the National Unification Party.
National Redemption Day, April 12. Anniversary of the coup in 1980.
Decoration Day, March 13.
Armed Forces Day, February 11. A public holiday in honor of the nation's army, navy, and militia.
Flag Day, August 24.
Fast and Prayer Day, April 11.
Literacy Day, February 14. A holiday to bring attention to worldwide efforts to stamp out illiteracy and to promote adult education.
Thanksgiving Day, first Thursday of November (Nov 4, 2004).

Public holidays New Year's Day, Armed Forces Day, Decoration Day, J. J. Robert's Birthday (Mar 15), Good Friday, Fast and Prayer Day, National Redemption Day, Unification and Integration Day, Independence Day, Flag Day, Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Day (Nov 12), President Tubman's Birthday, Christmas.

Holiday information does sometimes become outdated. If you find any errors, please send us corrections.

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