Cyprus Independence Day
October 1 · Level 9 · #318 of 2238
Cyprus marks the day it became a sovereign republic after British colonial rule. Archbishop Makarios III became the first president of the young state.
How it is celebrated: Nicosia hosts official ceremonies with flag-raising and wreath-laying, and schoolchildren and soldiers take part in solemn marches. Flags go up across towns and villages, and families gather for a festive meal.
The Cypriot flag has no stripes or stars. It shows a copper-coloured outline of the island above two olive branches on white. The copper is no accident: the island's name is often linked with its ancient copper mining.