Belarus Independence Day
July 3 · Level 10 · #53 of 2238
Belarus celebrates its national day on the anniversary of Minsk's liberation from Nazi occupation in 1944. The occasion combines celebrations of the country with remembrance of the war and the people who lived through it.
How it is celebrated: flowers are laid at war memorials, and towns and cities hold concerts and public festivities. Military parades and evening fireworks are also part of the holiday's traditions.
Despite its name, the date marks the liberation of the capital rather than a declaration of independence. It became the holiday's date following a referendum in 1996.