5 Nations Share India's Independence Day
The land of culture, history and beauty—India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day. On this occasion, we wandered a little beyond our borders to see if there were any other countries that marked t
The land of culture, history and beauty—India is celebrating its 77th Independence Day today. On this occasion, we wandered a little beyond our borders to wonder—are there any other countries that marked their independence on August 15? The answer is yes, there are five! The Republic of Congo, South Korea, North Korea, Liechtenstein and Bahrain.
Know more about their history below!
1. Republic of Congo:
Set on the western coast of Africa, this country is also known as Congo-Brazzaville. Originally a French colony, it gained independence from France in 1960. Don’t confuse this place with the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is a neighboring country! The Republic of Congo is a beautiful country in Africa, known for its lush rainforests, diverse wildlife, and vibrant cultures.
2. South Korea and North Korea:
On this day in 1945, the Korean peninsula was freed from Japanese rule. It was then divided into the two countries we know today—the exciting and chaotic South Korea, and its secretive northern neighbor, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Many countries also mark this date as ‘Victory over Japan Day’, to celebrate Japan’s surrender in World War II. South Korea is known for its modern cities, delicious food like kimchi and noodles, and popular music, K-pop. North Korea, on the other hand, is more closed off from the rest of the world.
3. Liechtenstein:
One of Europe’s smallest but richest countries, Liechtenstein doesn’t actually have an independence day…because it has never been captured! Instead, August 15 is the country’s National Day—a public holiday since 1940 that sees fireworks, street fairs and processions in the capital city of Vaduz.
4. Bahrain:
On August 15, 1971, Bahrain’s local population chose to free themselves from British and Iranian control using a United Nations survey. This small group of islands in the Persian Gulf then grew to be a jet set country with a glittering skyline. However, Bahrain’s actual National Day is celebrated on December 16, when the country’s first emir took the throne.
