National Days A-Z Trivia Quiz

Answer: 26 January

On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip became the first governor of the colony in New South Wales. This date has been celebrated ever since as 'Australia Day' with a national holiday.

Answer: 1971

Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan until they declared independence on 26th March 1971. This led to a liberation war which ended on 16th December 1971 against Pakistani occupation forces when they became an independent nation. The day is marked with parades and wreaths are laid at the National Martyrs Memorial or Jatiya Smriti Soudha.

Answer: 9 November

Cambodia won its independence from France on 9th November 1953 and was ruled by King Norodom Sihanouk until 7th October 2004. King Norodom Sihanouk also directed 5 films from 1969 to 1995.

Answer: Denmark

Denmark signed the constitution on 5th June 1849 following the European Revolutions of 1848. Hence this national day is called constitution day, Grundlovsdag in Danish. This day is also Father's Day in Denmark.

Answer: St George's Day

The national day in England is St George's Day (23rd April) named after England's patron saint. St George's Day is not widely celebrated in England to the extent that other countries celebrate their national days, Ireland's national day; St Patrick's Day is however celebrated in England although only through drinking Guinness more so than other days.

There is a campaign to get St George's Day noticed more e.g. a national or bank holiday. You can find out more about this campaign here http://www.stgeorgesday.com/home.

Answer: 10 October 1970

Fiji was under British rule from 1874 until 10th October 1970. Fijians celebrate their independence with Fiji Week, a week of celebrations which culminate on Fiji day (10th October).

Answer: Reunification between East and West Germany

The national day in Germany is to mark its Reunification, 3 October 1990 between East and West Germany.
Here are the dates of the other events not marked by Germany's national day:
Accession to European Union 25 March 1957.
German Empire forged 18 January 1871.
Albert Einstein born 14 March 1879.

Answer: France

As well as being New Year, Haitians also celebrate their independence on 1st January. It is traditional to eat Pumpkin Soup as when they were under slavery to the French, only French colonists were allowed to have Pumpkin Soup on special occasions.

Answer: 2 June

The 2nd June is the Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic in Italy. Until 1946, Italy was ruled by a monarchy but then chose to become a republic. The celebrations are known as 'La Festa Della Republica Italiana'.

Answer: Jordan

King Abdullah I helped Jordan gain recognition as a Kingdom from Great Britain in 1923 and won full independence on 25th May 1946. This day is known as Independence and Army Day.

Answer: 12 July

Kiribati (formerly known as the Gilbert Islands colony), won its independence from the UK on 12th July 1979. A competition was held to design a new national flag and the winning design was unveiled in the capital, Tarawa during the first national day celebrations.

Answer: Proclamation Day

November 18th is the anniversary of the date on which Latvia "proclaimed" its independence from Soviet Russia in 1918. Following the Second World war it fell under Soviet control again, but in 1990, as the USSR began to fall apart, Latvia declared the "renewal of independence" on 4th May, which was completed the following year, on 6th September 1991.

Answer: Mongolia

The Naadam Festival is held every year to celebrate the Mongolian national day, the opening ceremony being on the day itself and the festival continuing until the 13th July. The festival is also known as "eriin gurvan naadam" which means "three manly games", where Mongolians compete in Wrestling, Horse Racing and Archery. Women also compete in the Horse Racing and Archery, but not the Wrestling.

Answer: Constitution established

The Norwegian constitution was introduced on 17 May 1814 so the national day in Norway (Constitution Day) is celebrated every year on this date. Many people don Norwegian national dress and wave the Norwegian flag in the streets as the children's parades pass by. The royal family goes out onto their balcony of the royal palace in Oslo and wave at the passing children.

Answer: 18 November

The national day holiday in Oman is in honour of Sultan Sayyed Qaboos bin Sa'id Al 'Bu Sa'id whose birthday is 18th November. The festivities include camel racing and traditional dancing.

Answer: 28 July

The national day holiday in Peru marks the occasion when Jose de San Martin declared independence from Spain in 1821. People all over Peru fly the national flag for most of July and take part in cockfighting, bullfighting and Peruvian paso horse exhibitions.

Answer: 18 December

Qatar declared independence from UK on 3rd September 1971. Since 2007, there has been an annual national holiday to mark this event, which was originally on 3 September but was later moved to 18 December. Buildings are decorated with lights and people fill the streets and perform traditional dances called AlArda.

Answer: 12 June

Russia has a national holiday on 12th June to mark its independence. This is a relatively new holiday (independence finalised in 1991) and at the time of writing this, there are no real traditional celebrations carried out, merely a day off work.

Answer: St Andrew's Day

St Andrew's Day, 30th November, is the national day but Burns Night tends to be more widely observed. Although some customs and superstitions are followed around St Andrew's day, for example girls would pray to St Andrew near midnight on the 29th November for a husband.

Answer: Britain

Tonga was a British protectorate from 18th May 1900 until 4th June 1970. The 4th June has been known as Emancipation Day ever since. Ha'apai Tourism Festival takes place at the beginning of June every year. It starts off on the outer islands of the Ha'apai group and finishes on Lifuka Island on the 4th June.

Answer: 4th July 1776

The 4th July is a federal holiday in the United States and is celebrated with grand parades and firework displays. People also have barbecues and dress in red, white and blue (colours of the US flag).

Answer: 5 July

Venezuela was the first South American country to gain independence from Spain. Parades and fireworks mark the occasion, especially in the capital city of Caracas.

Answer: Gwyl Dewi

The patron saint of Wales is Saint David and St David's Day is celebrated annually on 1 March.
Cymru is Welsh for Wales.
Cymru am byth is the Welsh motto and means "Wales Forever".
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the Welsh national anthem "Land of my Fathers".

Answer: 22 May 1990

The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) and The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) reunited on 22nd May 1990.
The other dates are:
North Yemen gain independence from the Ottoman Empire 30 October 1918.
South Yemen gain independence from Great Britain 30 November 1967.

Answer: Northern Rhodesia

Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia until gaining independence from the UK on 24th October 1964. Southern Rhodesia went on to be Zimbabwe, Nyasaland went on to be Malawi and Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia.