Republic Day (Armenia)

Republic Day (Armenian: Հանրապետության օր, romanized: Hanrapetut’yan or) is a national holiday in Armenia marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic in 1918. It is commonly celebrated with fireworks, concerts, parades, and parties. It is considered to be the national day of Armenia.

Republic Day
Republic Day celebrations in May 1919.
Official nameՀանրապետության օր
Also calledNational Day
Observed by Armenia
SignificanceCommemorates the founding of the First Armenian Republic.
CelebrationsMilitary parades, ceremonies
DateMay 28
Next time28 May 2024 (2024-05-28)
Frequencyannual
Related toIndependence Day (Armenia)

History
Republic Day celebrations in 1919.

Shortly after the start of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire began forcible expulsion of Armenians from the empire. Women, children and elderly people were forced to leave Armenia and go to Syria and Russia. 1 to 1.5 million people were killed in what is now known as the Armenian genocide. Following the genocide, the Armenian National Council Declared its sovereignty on 28 May 1918. Armenia was proclaimed an independent republic on May 28, 1918. The republic immediately experienced massive hunger, and a massive influx of refugees. The republic was short lived, and as of December 2, 1920, the Red Army invaded Armenia and proclaimed it a Soviet Republic. Armenia regained its independence in 1991.[1]

Festivities

The first celebrations

The first celebrations of Republic Day since the Sovietization of Armenia took place at the start of the Karabakh movement. On the First Republic's 70th anniversary in 1988, the Flag of Armenia was first raised in front of Matenadaran. During a demonstration numbering tens of thousands in Yerevan, 5000 protesters appeared carrying the tricolor flag and portraits of Andranik, Garegin Nzhdeh and Armenian fedayis.[2][3] According to Verluise, this day "marked a radicalisation of [Armenian] national aspirations".[2]

General celebrations

The Republic Day celebrations coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Sardarabad, which pushed the invading Ottoman Army out of Armenia. Every year, the President of Armenia, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the President of Artsakh visits the Sardarapat Memorial to lay a wreath at the monument. Many cultural and military events also take place on Republic Day.[4][5][6] While in 2020, republic day was marked without the traditional public events and festive ceremonies due to restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.[7]

100th Anniversary
100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia
Հայաստանի Առաջին Հանրապետության 100-ամյակը
Hayastani Arrajin Hanrapetut’yan 100-amyaky
Date28 May 2018 (2018-05-28)
LocationArmenia
Also known asCentury of Victories
ParticipantsArmenian citizens
Armenian Diaspora

2018 marked the centennial of the founding of the First Armenian Republic. Armenia spent 618 million dram on events marking the anniversary.[8] The ceremonies (known as the "Century of Victories") were attended by the President Armen Sarkissian, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan, and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.[9][10]

A ceremonial military parade was held at the Sardarapat Memorial, which featured hundreds of soldiers dressed in military uniforms from the First Armenian, Red Army uniforms from World War II, as well as veterans of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War.[11] Historical vehicles such as the T-90 were also on display. It also featured subdivisions of corps of the Armenian Army, the Border Service of the National Security Service, the Police of Armenia, forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and, for the first time, servicemen of the Russian 102nd Military Base.[12]

In the evening, on Yerevan's Republic Square, a 3D show took place.[12]

References
  1. "Armenia marks First Republic Day". Archived from the original on 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  2. Verluise, Pierre (1995). Armenia in Crisis: The 1988 Earthquake. Wayne State University Press. p. 92. ISBN 9780814325278. Archived from the original on 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  3. "Մովսես Գորգիսյանը՝ Ազատության հրապարակում. մայիս 28, 1988". CIVILNET (in Armenian). 2015-09-16. Archived from the original on 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  4. Republic day 2017 (2017-05-30). "Independence Day of Armenia Marked at Sardarabad Memorial". Armenian National Committee of America. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  5. Republic day 2018 (2018-05-31). "Armenia Marks Centennial of First Republic". The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Archived from the original on 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  6. Republic day 2019. "Armenia, Diaspora around the globe celebrate First Republic centennial". armenpress.am. Archived from the original on 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  7. "Armenia Marks Republic Day Without Public Events Due To Coronavirus". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  8. "Armenia Will Spend $1.285 Million to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of First Republic". Hetq.am. 22 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-05-28. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  9. "Armenia marks 100th anniversary of the First Republic". news.am. Archived from the original on 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  10. "Armenia, Karabakh leaders lay wreaths at Sardarapat Memorial (PHOTOS)". news.am. Archived from the original on 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  11. "Armenia Celebrates 100th Anniversary of First Republic • MassisPost". MassisPost. 2018-05-28. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  12. "САРДАРАПАТ КАК ВЕРШИНА НАШЕГО ДУХА". golosarmenii.am. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
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