The land of culture, history, and beauty—India is celebrating its 78th 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 neighbouring country!
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 neighbour, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
South Koreans call this day ‘Gwangbokjeol’, meaning ‘the day the light returned’. Many countries also mark this date as ‘Victory over Japan Day’, to celebrate Japan’s surrender in World War II.
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 (ruler) took the throne.
Happy Independence Day! 🙂
