12 Countries Celebrating Their National Day in October
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October is one of the busiest months of the year for national celebrations. Twelve countries in our catalog mark a founding, independence or unity date this month — here they are, in calendar order, with the story behind each one.
October 1 — Nigeria, Cyprus, Tuvalu and Palau
Nigeria and Cyprus both became independent from Britain on October 1, 1960. Tuvalu followed on October 1, 1978, when the former Ellice Islands became a fully independent state within the Commonwealth. Palau marks October 1, 1994, the day the Compact of Free Association with the United States took effect and it became the last of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to gain independence.
October 3 — Germany
The Day of German Unity commemorates October 3, 1990, when East Germany joined the Federal Republic and the country was reunified. It is Germany's national day.
October 9 — Uganda
Uganda became independent from the United Kingdom on October 9, 1962, and celebrates it as a public holiday every year.
October 10 — Fiji
Fiji Day marks October 10, 1970, when Fiji gained independence after 96 years of British rule. It is also the date, in 1874, on which Fiji's chiefs ceded the islands to Britain — a double anniversary.
October 12 — Equatorial Guinea and Spain
Equatorial Guinea proclaimed independence from Spain on October 12, 1968. Spain observes its national day on the same date, tied to October 12, 1492 — the day Columbus's voyage reached the Americas.
October 24 — Zambia
On October 24, 1964, Northern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zambia, with Kenneth Kaunda as its first president.
October 26 — Austria
Austria's National Day recalls October 26, 1955, when parliament declared the country's permanent neutrality — the step that led to the withdrawal of the last Allied troops. It has been celebrated as the national day since 1965.
October 29 — Turkey
Republic Day commemorates October 29, 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed Turkey a republic.
Each of these dates is printed on the matching design in our catalog. Browse the collections: Nigeria, Cyprus, Germany, Fiji, Spain, Austria, Turkey — or explore the story behind any country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.