Cyprus Independence Day
🇨🇾 Cyprus
- Public Holiday
- Countrywide
- Fixed date
Overview
Cyprus Independence Day celebrates the island's independence from British rule, which was formally achieved in 1960. Observed every year on 1 October by the Republic of Cyprus, it is a national holiday marked by public ceremonies and a military parade in the capital.
What It Is
The centerpiece of the day is a military parade in Nicosia, the capital. Units from the National Guard, Greek forces stationed in Cyprus, the police, and the fire services take part. When the parade ends, the president delivers a traditional speech to the nation. Festivals are held around the country, and shops and businesses may close in observance, making it a day for ceremony, family time, and public gatherings.
Why It Matters
Cyprus was a British colony from 1878 until 1960. In the 1950s, Greek Cypriots fought for union with Greece under the underground group EOKA, and the conflict lasted four years. The outcome was not union but an independent state, partly because Turkish Cypriots did not want to become a smaller minority within Greece. Independence was set out in the London and Zürich Agreements and guaranteed by Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The holiday recalls that settlement and the founding of the republic on 16 August 1960.
Countries Celebrating
1 country
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