📅 holiday

Angola Independence Day

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

— days to go

Arrival. Portuguese explorers led by Diogo Cão first arrived in present-day Angola

History

Angola gained independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975, ending centuries of Portuguese colonial rule. Portuguese explorers first arrived in the region in the late 15th century, and Angola became a key Portuguese colony serving as a major hub for the slave trade. The interior of Angola remained largely under traditional African kingdoms until Portuguese settlement expanded in the late 19th century. Following the Portuguese Carnation Revolution in 1974, which overthrew the authoritarian regime in Lisbon, Portugal agreed to grant independence to its African colonies. After years of liberation struggle led by the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) and other movements, Angola achieved independence on November 11, 1975. The transition was followed by a prolonged civil war. November 11 commemorates the day Angola emerged as a sovereign nation after more than 400 years of Portuguese presence.

How It's Celebrated

Celebrate by learning more about the occasion, sharing on social media with relevant hashtags, participating in community events, or taking small personal actions that align with the day's theme.

Countries

🇦🇳 AN

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🎉 festival Feb 17

Angola Carnival Day

Carnival Day in Angola is celebrated on February 17 and marks the culmination of the country's carnival season. The celebration showcases Angola's rich cultural diversity through vibrant parades, traditional music, dance competitions, and colorful costumes. The main festivities take place in Luanda, where carnival groups compete for the title of champion.

📅 holiday Nov 30

St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew’s Day is celebrated every 30 November in Scotland. The day celebrates the Feast of Saint Andrew and is also considered Scotland’s National Day. In 2026, Saint Andrew's Day falls on Monday 30 November. The holiday will be on Tuesday 30 November in 2027. *Please refer to this note for Scotland-specific information. This patron saint day was declared a bank holiday in 2006 by the Scottish Parliament although banks are not required to close if they do not wish to. If 30 November occurs on a weekend, the bank holiday is moved to the following Monday. Saint Andrew is notable in that he was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and was also the brother of Saint Peter. Before following Jesus, Andrew was a fisherman. He was born at Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. The main colour you will see in Scotland on Saint Andrew’s Day is the white diagonal cross on blue background of the Scottish flag – the Saltire. This is the Saint Andrew’s cross, and represents the shape of the cross on which Saint Andrew was said to have been crucified. The history of the Scottish link to Saint Andrew goes back as far as 832AD when Óengus II promised God that if the Scots and Picts were victorious in battle against the Angles he would make Saint Andrew the patron saint of Scotland. And they were. Saint Andrew’s Day’s amazing menus include cullen skink (haddock and potato soup), highland venison casseroles, potted hough (shin) with mustard sauce and Scottish tablet (a very sweet treat). Events around Scotland include flag ceremonies, the Shindig in George Square of Glasgow that features live music, and local celebrations in the town of Saint Andrews in the Kingdom of Fife. There is also free entry to many of Scotland’s castles and attractions on the day. Scotland has a free Saint Andrew’s Day app available for iPhone and Android with Scottish and worldwide events, menu ideas and much more.

🌍 observance Dec 9

V.C. Bird Day

In 1910, Birth of V.C. Bird. Born on December 9, 1910, Vere Cornwall (V.C.) Bird would later become a significant figure in Antigua and Barbuda's political history

📅 holiday Dec 26

Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti

The birth anniversary of freedom fighter Udham Singh, called “Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti”, is a public holiday in the Indian state of Haryana. In 2026, Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti falls on Saturday 26 December. The holiday will be on Sunday 26 December in 2027. From the British perspective, Shaheed Udham Singh was an assassin who killed their lieutenant governor of Punjab province on 13 March 1940. He shot Michael O’Dwyer to death at a meeting in London. He did not try to escape and was immediately arrested. In jail, he went on a hunger strike for over 40 days but was force fed to keep him alive until his execution on 31 July, 1940. In India, he is sometimes called “Shaheed i Azam”, which means “The Great Martyr”. The reason is that Michael O’Dwyer had supported a massacre of over 1,000 people over 20 years before he was assassinated. In 1919, riots broke out against British rule in Punjab, which were ultimately put down by firing on civilians, including women and children. There had been riots a few days before that had killed four Europeans and burned down some British banks, but the crowd fired upon is considered to have been a group of peaceful protesters. Mahatma Gandhi condemned the assassination, but many others, especially in his native province of Punjab, approved of it. There is a national memorial in the garden of Jallianwala Bagh in the Punjabi city of Amritsar, where the 1919 massacre took place, which mentions him honourably.