Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including theAlbania,Burkina Faso,India,Myanmar,Panama andTunisia, to recognisemartyrs such assoldiers,revolutionaries or victims ofgenocide. Below is a list of various Martyrs' Days for different countries of the World.[citation needed]
Martyrs' Day (Albania) (Albanian:Dita e Dëshmorëve) is an Albanian Holiday observed annually on May 5 for the remembrance of those who died for Albanian liberation duringWorld War 2. The date was chosen for its significance as the anniversary of the assassination ofQemal Stafa by Italian fascists in 1942. His death became a symbol of anti-fascism and Albanian liberation.
Martyrs' Day is observed on September 9 (variable), the anniversary ofAhmad Shah Massoud's 2001 assassination.[citation needed] It has also been recognised officially bySan Diego County, California, home to the highest concentration of Afghani immigrants and refugees in theUnited States.[1]
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, on April 24 in Armenia, commemorates theArmenian genocide, which occurred from 1915 to 1923 in theOttoman Empire.[2]
Anzac Day (/ˈænzæk/) is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".[3][4] Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of theAustralian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in theGallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in theFirst World War (1914–1918).
Martyrs' Day in Azerbaijan is observed on January 20, in memory of those killed in theBlack January events.[5]
Martyrs' Day, on October 31, honors victims of the2015 Burkinabé coup d'état.[10]
Martyrs' Day, on July 19, commemorates the day when nine Burmese independence leaders were assassinated in 1947.[11]
Martyrs' Day (China) is celebrated on September 30, the eve of theNational Day of the People's Republic of China, to commemorate those who lost their lives for the national and territorial integrity of the people of China. It was created by theNational People's Congress in 2014.[12]
Martyrs' Day (Eritrea), is observed on June 20 of every year to honor the fallen heroes of Eritrea's warriors from theYikealo andWarsay generations.[13]
January 30 is recognised nationally as Martyrs' Day in India, to mark theassassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.[14] A number of states and regions recognise other days as Martyrs' Day locally.
Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria), commemorates the execution of Muslim and Christian Lebanese and Syrian Arab nationalists in Beirut (on what's now called Martyrs Square) by the Ottoman soldiers on May 6 1916 and martyrs of the Lebanese civil war, which took place from 1975 till 1990.[15]
Hezbollah also holds its own Martyrs' Day commemorations on November 11 annually.[16][17]
16 September Martyrs' Day remembers Libyans killed or exiled underItalian rule and those who were killed in the 17 February revolution.[18]
Martyrs' Day in the country, observed every 29 March, commemorates the beginning of the 1947Malagasy Uprising.[19]
In Malawi, Martyrs' Day is celebrated on March 3 to honor the political heroes who gave their lives in the struggle against British colonialism.[20]
Warriors' Day (Malay:Hari Pahlawan;Chinese:国家纪念日) is a day inMalaysia that commemorates the servicemen killed during the twoWorld Wars and theMalayan Emergency. By extension, it honours all individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty throughout Malaysia's history.[21]
Martyrs' Day or Democracy Day is celebrated onMarch 26 and honors the victims of the1991 Malian coup d'état.[22]
In Nepal, Martyrs' Day (Nepali:शहीद दिवस) is celebrated on January 30, corresponding to Magh 16 (Nepali:माघ १६ गते) in the HinduVikram Samvat calendar.[23]
Martyr (Nepali:शहिद; Shahid) inNepal is a term for someone who is executed while making contributions for the welfare of the country or society. The term was originally used for individuals who died while opposing theRana Regime which was in place in theKingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1951. There are five martyrs in Nepal.
Lakhan Thapa is regarded as the firstmartyr of Nepal.[24]
Remembrance of the Dead (Dutch:Dodenherdenking) is held annually onMay 4 in the Netherlands.[25] It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of theKingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of theSecond World War.
Martyrs' Day orYoum-e-Shuhada is a Pakistani holiday held on 30 April to pay tribute to Pakistani military who died in service of their country.[26]
Martyrs' Day (Panama), is a Panamanian holiday which commemorates the January 9 1964 riots over sovereignty of thePanama Canal Zone.[27]
Dia dos Mártires da Liberdade, 3 February, commemorates the 1953Batepá massacre.[28]
June 6th is served asMemorial day in South Korea, on which all the Koreans who sacrificed themselves for the nation, especially the soldiers who served inKorean War, are commemorated. Also, November 17th is served as Patriotic Martyrs Day, on which patriots who devoted themselves to the retrieval of national sovereignty from theEmpire of Japan are commemorated. The date was chosen because of theEulsa treaty, in which theKorean Empire was deprived of its diplomatic sovereignty by Japan, on November 17th, 1905.
30 July isMartyrs' Day in South Sudan commemorating the death ofJohn Garang de Mabior, leader of theSudan People's Liberation Army during theSecond Sudanese Civil War. Following a peace agreement, he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan for three weeks until his death in a helicopter crash on July 30, 2005. Foul play in his death has never been proven, but July 30 is marked as Martyrs' Day inSouth Sudan.[29]
Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria), commemorates the execution of Muslim and Christian Lebanese and Syrian Arab nationalists in Damascus and Beirut by theOttoman Empire on 6 May 1916.[30] In 2025, Syrian PresidentAhmed al-Sharaa issued apresidential decree defining the country’sofficial holidays, removing Martyrs' Day from the list.[31]
21 June honours all who struggled for the freedom of Togo. It is celebrated with a military parade inLomé[32]
April 9 Martyrs' Day remembers Tunisians killed in 1938.[33]
March 18, is recognised in remembrance of Turkish soldiers fallen in action.[34] It is on the same dateOttoman forces defeated a naval attack of theAllied Powers inGallipoli Campaign duringWorld War I on March 18, 1915.
In Uganda, Martyrs' Day is celebrated on June 3, mainly in honor of theUganda Martyrs; Christian converts who were murdered for their religion in Uganda's biggest kingdom, Buganda in the late-1880s.[35]
Martyrs' Day (United Arab Emirates) also known asCommemoration Day (United Arab Emirates) will be marked annually on November 30, recognising the sacrifices and dedication ofEmirati martyrs who have given their life in the UAE and abroad in the field of civil, military and humanitarian service.[36]
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day[37]) is afederal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties.[38] Since 1971, the holiday isobserved on the last Monday of May. The holiday was observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.[39]
TheMemorial Day for War Martyrs is recognised on 27 July, in Vietnam.[40]