Worldwide events newspaper; 226 issue; 03 09 may 2015

Constitution Day Poland - May 03

Constitution of May 3, 1791 (Polish: Konstytucja Trzeciego Maja;Lithuanian: Gegužės trečiosios konstitucija) is generally regarded as Europe's first and the world's second modern codified national constitution, following the 1788 ratification of the United States Constitution (however, see also: Corsican Constitution and Constitution of San Marino). The May 3, 1791, Constitution was adopted as a "Government Act" (Polish: Ustawa rządowa) on that date by the Sejm (parliament) of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was in effect for only a year, until the Russo-Polish War of 1792.

The May 3 Constitution was designed to redress long-standing political defects of the Polish– Lithuanian Commonwealth and its traditional sysof "Golden Liberty" conveying tem disproportionate rights and privileges to the nobility. The Constitution introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility (szlachta) and placed the peasants under the protection of the government, thus mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. The Constitution abolished pernicious parliamentary institutions such as the liberum veto, which at one time had put the sejm at the mercy of any deputy who might choose, or be bribed by an interest or foreign power, to undo legislation passed by that sejm. The Constitution sought to supplant the existing anarchy fostered by some of the country's magnates with a more democratic constitutional monarchy. The document was translated into Lithuanian.

The adoption of the May 3 Constitution provoked the active hostility of the Commonwealth's neighbors. In the War in Defense of the Constitution, the Commonwealth lost its Prussian ally, Frederick William II, when the Commonwealth failed to live up to territorial agreements made in their treaty and also failed to consult Prussia before agreeing on the constitution. It was then defeated by Catherine the Great's Imperial Russia allied with the Targowica Confederation, a coalition of Polish magnates and landless nobility who opposed reforms that might weaken their influence.

Despite the Commonwealth's defeat and the consequent Second Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the May 3 Constitution influenced later democratic movements. It remained, after the demise of the Polish Republic in 1795, over the next 123 years of Polish partitions, a beacon in the struggle to restore Polish sovereignty. In the words of two of its co-authors, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj, it was "the last will and testament of the expiring Motherland."

Background The May 3 Constitution responded to the

increasingly perilous situation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, only a century earlier a major European power and indeed the largest state on the continent. Already two hundred years before the May 3 Constitution, King Sigismund III Vasa's court preacher, the Jesuit Piotr Skarga, had famously condemned the individual and collective weaknesses of the Commonwealth. Likewise, in the same period, writers and philosophers such as Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski and Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki, and Jan Zamoyski's egzekucja praw (Execution-of-the-Laws) reform movement, had advocated reforms.

By the early 17th century, the magnates of Poland and Lithuania controlled the Commonwealth—or rather, they managed to ensure that no reforms would be carried out that might weaken their privileged status (the "Golden Freedoms"). They spent lavishly on banquets, drinking bouts and other amusements, while the peasants languished in abysmal conditions and the towns, many of which were wholly within the private property of a magnate who feared the rise of an independent middle class, were kept in a state of ruin.

Many historians hold that a major cause of the Commonwealth's downfall was the peculiar institution of the liberum veto ("free veto"), which since 1652 had in principle permitted any Sejm deputy to nullify all the legislation that had been adopted by that Sejm. Thus deputies bribed by magnates or foreign powers, or simply content to believe they were living in some kind of "Golden Age", for over a century paralysed the Commonwealth's government. The King Stanisław August, principal author of Constituthreat of the liberum veto could, however, be overridden by the establishment of a tion "confederated sejm", which operated immune from the liberum veto. The Four-Year, or "Great", Sejm of 1788–92, which would adopt the Constitution of May 3, 1791, was such a confederated sejm, and it was due only to that fact that it was able to put through so radical a piece of legislation.

The Enlightenment had gained great influence in certain Commonwealth circles during the reign (1764–95) of its last king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, and the King had proceeded with cautious reforms such as the establishment of fiscal and military ministries and a national customs tariff. However, the idea of reforms in the Commonwealth was viewed with growing suspicion not only by the magnates, but also by neighboring countries, which were content with the Commonwealth's contemporary state of affairs and abhorred the thought of a resurgent and democratic power on their borders.

Accordingly Russia's Empress Catherine the Great and Prussia's King Frederick the Great provoked a conflict between some members of the Sejm and the King over civil rights for religious minorities. Catherine and Frederick declared their support for the Polish nobility (szlachta) and their "liberties," and by October 1767 Russian troops had assembled outside the Polish capital, Warsaw. The King and his adherents, in face of superior Russian military force, were left with little choice but to acquiesce in Russian demands and during the Repnin Sejm (named after unofficially presiding Russian ambassador Nicholas Repnin) accept the five "eternal and invariable principles" which Catherine vowed to "protect for all time to come in the name of Poland's liberties": the election of kings; the right of liberum veto; the right to renounce allegiance to, and raise rebellion against, the king (rokosz); the szlachta's exclusive right to hold office and land; and a landowner's power of life and death over his peasants. Thus all the privileges of the nobility that had made the Commonwealth's political system ("Golden Liberty") ungovernable were guaranteed as unalterable in the Cardinal Laws. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth thus became an effective protectorate of the Russian Empire. Nonetheless, several minor beneficial reforms were adopted, and the need for more reforms was becoming increasingly recognized.

Not everyone in the Commonwealth agreed with King Stanisław August's acquiescence. On February 29, 1768, several magnates, including Kazimierz Pułaski, vowing to oppose Russian intervention, declared Stanisław August a "lackey of Russia and Catherine" and formed aconfederation at the town of Bar. The Bar Confederation began a civil war with the goal of overthrowing the King and fought on until 1772, when overwhelmed by Russian intervention.

The Bar Confederation's defeat set the scene for the next act in the unfolding drama. On August 5, 1772, at St. Petersburg, Russia, the three neighboring powers—Russia, Prussia and Austria—signed the First Partition treaty. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was to be divested of about a third of its territory and population (over 200,000 km2 (77,220 sq mi) and 4 million people). This was justified on grounds of "anarchy" in the Commonwealth and her refusal to cooperate with its neighbors' efforts to restore order. The three powers demanded that the Sejm ratify this first partition, otherwise threatening further partitions. King Stanisław August yielded under duress and on April 19, 1773, called the Sejm into session. Only 102 deputies attended what became known as the Partition Sejm; the rest, aware of the King's decision, refused. Despite protests, notably by the deputy Tadeusz Rejtan, the First Partition of Poland was ratified.

The first of the three successive 18th-century partitions of Commonwealth territory that would eventually blot Poland from the map of Europe shocked the inhabitants of the Commonwealth, and had made it clear to progressive minds that the Commonwealth must either reform or perish. Even before the First Partition, a Sejm deputy had been sent to ask the French philosophes Gabriel Bonnot de Mably and Jean-Jacques Rousseau to draw up tentative constitutions for a new Poland. Mably had submitted his recommendations in 1770–71; Rousseau had finished his (Considerations on the Government of Poland) in 1772, when the First Partition was already underway.

Supported by King Stanisław August, a new wave of reforms were introduced. The most important included the establishment, in 1773, of a Komisja Edukacji Narodowej ("Commission of National Education")—the first ministry of education in the world. New schools were opened in the cities and in the countryside, uniform textbooks were printed, teachers were educated, and poor students were provided scholarships. The Commonwealth's military was modernized, and a standing army was formed. Economic and commercial reforms, previously shunned as unimportant by the szlachta, were introduced, and the development of industries was encouraged. The peasants were given some rights. A new Police ministry fought corruption. Everything from the road system to prisons was reformed. A new executive body was created, the Permanent Council (Polish: Rada Nieustająca), comprising five ministries.

In 1776, the Sejm commissioned Chancellor Andrzej Zamoyski to draft a new legal code, the Zamoyski Code. By 1780, under Zamoyski's direction, a code (Zbiór praw sądowych) had been produced. It would have strengthened royal power, made all officials answerable to the Sejm, placed the clergy and their finances under state supervision, and deprived landless szlachta of many of their legal immunities. Zamoyski's progressive legal code, containing elements of constitutional reform, facing opposition from conservative szlachta and foreign powers, failed to be adopted by the Sejm.

Fiesta de las Cruces Int’l - Ma y 0 3

The Fiesta de las Cruces ("Festival of the Crosses") or Cruz de Mayo ("May Cross") is a holiday celebrated 3 May in many parts of Spain and Hispanic America.

Origins

Religiously, the festival is rooted in the search by the Byzantine Empress Saint Helena for the cross on which Jesus died, but the popular traditions connected to the festival certainly originate from pagan traditions brought to Spain by the Roman Empire.

The legend is that Emperor Constantine I, in the sixth year of his reign, confronted the barbarians on the banks of the Danube, in a battle where victory was believed to be impossible because of the great size of the enemy army.

One night, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky, and by it the words "In hoc signo vincis" (With this sign, you shall be victorious). The emperor had a cross made and put it at the front of his army, which won an easy victory over the enemy multitude. On returning to the city and learning the significance of the cross, Constantine was baptized as a Christian and gave orders to construct Christian churches. He sent his mother, Saint Helena, to Jerusalem in search of the True Cross, the cross on which Jesus died. Once there, Helena summoned the wisest priests to aid in her attempt to find the cross. On Calvary Hill, traditionally considered the site of Jesus's crucifixion, she found three bloody logs hidden. In order to discover which was the True Cross, she placed the logs one by one over sick people, and even dead people, who were cured or resuscitated at the touch of the True Cross. The veneration of the True Cross, and the use of pieces of the True Cross as relics, begins at this time. Santa Helena died praying for all believers in Christ to celebrate the commemoration of the day the Cross was found.

Constitution Memorial Day Japan - May 03

Japan commemorates the coming into effect of its new 1947 constitution. Japan’s constitution reflects Japan’s total abolition of war and military armament. Japan’s Constitution Memorial Day is one of the four public holidays in the Golden Week which also includes Emperor’s Birthday, Greenery Day, and Shōwa Day on April 29, Greenery Day on May 3, and Children’s Day on May 4.

History Two years after the end of World War II, Japan

promulgated a new constitution. It was recognized as a holiday since the passing of the new constitution on May 3, 1947. The renouncement of war is considered as Japan’s sovereign right and using war as an instrument to settle international dispute is forever banned. Article 9 of the Japanese constitutions states that: ARTICLE 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. (2) To accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

A number of known personalities, writers, and members of media in Japan have long been criticizing the above law such as the 2003 editorials in some major newspaper publications in the country.

Celebrations During this day, the National Diet Building, housing Japan’s upper house, the House of Councillors and lower house

which is the House of Representatives (National Diet of Japan), becomes open to the public.

Also, the Japanese government calls for a nationwide reflection on the meaning of democracy in Japan and its forever renouncement of war as stated in the controversial and criticized Article 9 of the 1947 Japanese constitution.

World Press Freedom Day Worldwide - May 03

The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.

UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. Created in 1997, the prize is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organizations working for press freedom, and by UNESCO member states.

The Prize is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in Bogotá, on 17 December 1986. Cano's writings had offended Colombia's powerful drug barons.

UNESCO also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organisations and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges. Each conference is centred around a theme related to press freedom, including good governance, media coverage of terrorism, impunity and the role of media in post-conflict countries.

The 2011 World Press Freedom Day celebration is being held in Washington, D.C., USA on May 1-3. This will be the first time the United States has hosted the World Press Freedom Day celebration. The theme of this year's event is 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. The event will affirm fundamental principles of media freedom in the digital age—the ability of citizens to voice their opinions and access diverse, independent information sources— 20 years after the original declaration was made in Windhoek, Namibia. The World Press Freedom Day 2011 program and agenda are available here.

Labour Day (Queensland, Northern Territory) Australia - May 03

Labour Day in Australia is known as Eight-Hour Day in Tasmania and May Day in the Northern Territory. It is always on a Monday, creating a long weekend. Marches or parades only usually occur in Queensland now, and not always there depending on the state government at the time.

Labour Day is celebrated in March in Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, in May in the Northern Territory, and in October in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Casinga Day Namibia May 04

Cassinga Day is a national public holiday in Namibia remembering the Cassinga massacre. Occurring on 4 May yearly, the day "remembers those (approximately 600) killed in 1978 when the South African Defence Force attacked a SWAPO base (refugee camp) at Cassinga in southern Angola". Commemorations are marked yearly by ceremonies at Heroes' Acre, outside of Windhoek. These ceremonies are attended by many important national political figures, including Presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba and Sam Nujoma.

Kokumin-no-Kyujitsu Japan - May 04

Note that "kokumin no kyūjitsu" or "citizen's holiday" is a generic term for any official holiday. May 4 was until 2007 an unnamed but official holiday because of a rule that converts any day between two holidays into a new holiday. May Day is not a public holiday. Instead, Japan has Labour Thanksgiving Day, a holiday with a similar purpose. When a public holiday lands on a Sunday, the next day that is not already a holiday becomes a holiday for that year. In some cases, a Compensation Holiday (振替休日 Furikae Kyūjitsu) is held on either April 30 or May 6 should any of the Golden Week holidays fall on Sunday; 2012, 2013, and 2014, have had Compensation Holidays for Shōwa Day, Children's Day, and Greenery Day, respectively, and 2015 will have Constitution Memorial Day fall on Sunday, requiring another consecutive year with a Compensation Holiday.

National Youth Day China - May 04

Youth Day (青年节) in the People's Republic of China is on May 4. It was established in December 1949 by the Government Administration Council to commemorate the beginning of the May Fourth Movement.

Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled Afghanistan - May 04

May 4 is Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled in Afghanistan. It honors the memory of those who were killed or wounded in revolutions and wars, primarily the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

The history of Afghanistan in the second half of the 20th century was marked by a number of revolutions and devastating wars. Everything started with the 1978 Saur Revolution, when the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) seized power and established the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

The confrontation between the new government and radical Islamists expanded into a civil war. On 1979, the Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to support the PDPA government in the fight against guerrilla mujahideen. Thus began the Soviet war in Afghanistan, which lasted for 10 years and resulted in the deaths of over 1 million Afghans.

The Soviet troops withdrew in 1989, but hostilities did not stop. There have been several consecutive civil wars in Afghanistan since then. The Taliban insurgency that began in 2001 still continues.

The number of deaths that occurred during wars in Afghanistan is overwhelming. On May 4, those who died or were severely injured are honored and remembered.

Remembrance Day Netherlands - May 04

Remembrance of the Dead (Dutch: Dodenherdenking) is held annually on May 4 in the Netherlands. It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II. Until 1961, the commemoration only related to the Dutch victims of World War II. Since 1961, the victims of other military conflicts (such as the Indonesian National Revolution in Indonesia) and peacekeeping missions (such as in Lebanon or Bosnia) are remembered on May 4 as well.

Traditionally, the main ceremonies are observed in Amsterdam at the National Monument on Dam Square. This ceremony is usually attended by members of the cabinet and the royal family, military leaders, representatives of the resistance movement and other social groups. At 8:00 p.m., two minutes of silence are observed throughout the Netherlands. Public transport is stopped, as well as all other traffic. Radio and TV only broadcast the ceremonies from 19.00 until 20.30.

Since May 4, 1994, the flags, having hung at half-staff during the day, are then hoisted to the music of the "Wilhelmus", the Dutch national anthem. Since 2001 the new protocol says it is correct to let the flag hang half-staff.

The main celebrations in Amsterdam are broadcast by the public broadcasting company NOS, but there are ceremonies in other cities and places as well. Especially notable are those at the Waalsdorpervlakte near the Hague, where many Dutch resistance fighters were executed during the war, and at the war cemetery Grebbeberg, which are broadcast by the commercial broadcasting companies. In many towns, before or after the two minutes of silence, people gather around a monument, listen to speeches, and lay down flowers to remember the dead.

The next day, on May 5, Dutch people celebrate the liberation of the nation from the German occupation of 1940 to 1945.

2010 incident The 2010 ceremony on Dam Square was disrupted towards the end of the two-minute silence by a 39-year-old man

with a history of violent crimes and drug trading. Standing on the Rokin side of the square dressed as an Orthodox Jew, he refused to end a loud conversation on a cell phone during the two-minute silence, then pushed his way through the crowd while muttering unintelligibly and issued an extended loud scream that was heard all over the square. A person nearby dropped a suitcase in the resulting panic which prompted a cry of "Bomb, bomb, run!" which caused a panicked stampede among the 20.000 people crowd. Many people were trampled and some ended up trapped underneath crowd control barriers that were pushed over in the chaos. The sounds of the barriers falling were mistaken for gunshots by many people and added to the chaos. A total of 63 people were treated for injuries, mostly minor ones and some broken bones. The panic reaction was explained by many as resulting from the tension after the attack on the Dutch royal family that killed eight people just over a year before the incident.

Queen Beatrix, who had been rushed to safety with the rest of the royal family, returned once the situation was under control and the ceremony was continued. The owner of the dropped suitcase was arrested but released because his suitcase contained only personal belongings. The 39-year-old man was also arrested and charged with disrupting public order and indirectly causing bodily harm. He later confessed to the police that he had been drinking and had screamed because of "frustrations in his personal life." He professed to be sorry and claimed there was no deeper meaning or thought behind his action.

Greenery Day Japan - May 04

Greenery Day (みどりの日 Midori no hi) is a Japanese holiday. Between 1989 and 2006 it was celebrated on April 29.

In 2007 Greenery Day was moved to May 4.

The present observation of Greenery Day as a national holiday in Japan stems from the celebration of the Emperor Shōwa's birthday on April 29 every year during the Shōwa era. In 1989, following the ascension of the current Emperor Akihito to the Chrysanthemum Throne, the name of the holiday was changed from "Birthday of the Emperor" to "Greenery Day". Officially, as its name suggests, it is a day to commune with nature and to be thankful for blessings.

The day was renamed to "Greenery Day" to acknowledge the controversial wartime emperor's love for plants without directly mentioning his name. However, in practice it is seen as just another day that expands the Japanese Golden Week vacation.

In 2007, Greenery Day moved to May 4, and April 29 was changed to Shōwa Day in accordance with a 2005 revision of the law pertaining to public holidays. The Shōwa Emperor reigned for 62 years and 2 weeks. On May 3, 1947, he became a symbol of Japan by the new constitution of the country.

Children's Day South Korea - May 05

In South Korea, May 5 is officially recognized as Children's Day (어린이날 ). Parents often give presents to their children, as well as spend time with them. The children are taken on excursions to zoos, museums, and various venues of children-oriented entertainment.

Children's Day was first conceived by innovative Korean students and social leaders on the basis of the March 1st Movement to achieve Korean independence from Japanese colonialism.

From Jinju, many people gathered to promote and improve the social status of children and encourage adults to teach awareness of their deprived sovereignty. In 1923, several groups of students studying in Tokyo agreed to designate May 1 as Children's Day. A predominant intellectual figure, Bang jeong hwan (방정환,方定煥), greatly contributed to the popularization of the holiday. Because it overlapped with Laborer's Day, Children's Day was moved to May 5. Bang Jeon Hwan first coined the modern Korean word for children,eorini (어린이), replacing the previous words aenom (애놈) and aesaekki (애새끼). Until 1939, Japanese authorities based in Seoul oppressed the movement to stop Korean social activists congregating for the festival. After independence in 1945, the movement to respect children was revived. The children's welfare law written in the constitution officially designated May 5 as Children's Day in 1961. And by 'the law of holiday of government office', Children's day became a holiday in Korea in 1970.

Proclamation of Independence Latvia - May 04

The Declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia" (Latvian:Deklarācija Par Latvijas Republikas neatkarības atjaunošanu) was adopted on 4 May 1990, by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR. The Declaration stated that, although Latvia had de facto lost its independence in 1940, when it was annexed by the Soviet Union, the country had de jure remained a sovereign country as the annexation had been unconstitutional and against the will of the people of Latvia.

Therefore it resolved that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 were illegal, and annulled the declaration on the accession of Latvia to the Soviet Union of 21 July 1940, re-instituted the Constitution of Latvia of 1922, which was thereupon partly suspended, and set a period of transition to de facto independence, which would end upon the first session of Saeima. It also ruled that during the transitional period the Constitution of the Latvian SSR and other laws would remain applicable as long as they did not contradict articles 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the Constitution of Latvia, which were reinforced by the declaration. It was provided that a committee to elaborate a new edition of the Constitution of Latvia should be created. Social, economic, cultural and political rights were granted to citizens and residents of Latvia in accordance with international human rights. The declaration also stated that Latvia would form its relationship with the Soviet Union on the basis of the Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty of 1920, in which the Soviet Union had recognized the independence of Latvia as inviolable "for all future time".

Overview

Historical and juridical background:

In its beginning the Declaration establishes several historical facts and on the basis of these facts concludes that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country. It observes that the Republic of Latvia proclaimed independence on 18 November 1918, and was internationally recognized in 1920, and that Latvia was admitted to membership in the League of Nations in 1921. The first country to recognize the independence of Latvia de jure was Soviet Russia on 11 August 1920, when the Soviet-Latvian Peace treaty was signed (it is generally considered that the independence of Latvia de jure was internationally recognized on 26 January 1921, when it was recognized by the Allies of World War I). The declaration notes that in April 1920 the Latvian nation followed the principle of self-determination by electing a Constitutional Assembly of Latvia, which adopted the Constitution of Latvia on 15 February 1922, in general, equal and direct elections, based on proportional representation.

On 23 August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. Latvia was apportioned to the Soviet sphere and on 5 October 1939, signed a mutual assistance pact. On 16 June 1940, the Soviet Union issued an ultimatum to Latvia accusing it of not carrying out the treaty, namely of forming amilitary alliance against the USSR, and requested a new government to be formed and to guarantee Soviet military free entrance in Latvia. The Latvian government decided to give in to the ultimatum and on 17 June 1940, Soviet forces entered Latvia. The Declaration states that the Soviet ultimatum and military aggression on 17 June 1940, should be viewed as an international crime, which led to the occupation of Latvia and loss of its sovereignty and points out that the new government was formed as dictated by the Soviet Union and by international law should not be viewed as executive of Latvia as it represented Soviet, not Latvian, interests.

On 14-15 July 1940 a parliament called the "People's Saeima of Latvia" was elected, which on 21 July 1940, declared accession to the Soviet Union. The declaration states that the election of the People's Saeima took place on the basis of unconstitutional and illegally adopted election law in a state of political terror and notes that out of 17 lists submitted for the election only one was allowed to participate in the election, which had not stated prior to the election that Soviet power should be established in Latvia and it should join the Soviet Union and that results of the election were falsified. The declaration observes that the People's Saeima was formed by misleading the people and therefore did not express the sovereign will of people of Latvia. It also notes that the People's Saeima had no right to change the political system in Latvia and liquidate its sovereignty as only the people have such right and the issue was never submitted to a national referendum. Therefore the Declaration rules that, in accordance with international law, the annexation of Latvia to the Soviet Union was not valid and the Republic of Latvia is still de jure subject to international law as recognized by more than 50 countries.

Basis:

After concluding that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country the Declaration makes note of previously adopted documents and explains that the Supreme Soviet is acting according to the will of inhabitants of Latvia.

First it notes two previous declarations of the Supreme Soviet — "On sovereignty of state of Latvia" of 28 July 1989, which declared that the Latvian SSR will act as a sovereign state and that laws adopted by the Soviet Union will come in force in the territory of Latvian SSR only if the Supreme Soviet has ratified them and "In question of independence of Latvia" of 15 February 1990, in which the Supreme Soviet condemns declaration "On accession of Latvia to Soviet Union" of 21 July 1940, however none of these explicitly called for secession from the Soviet Union.

Secondly it notes Appeal of All-Latvian congress of people deputies of 21 April 1990, which called for restoration of independence. Then it is stated that the Supreme Soviet is acting in accordance with the will of inhabitants of Latvia, which had been clearly expressed by electing as a majority those deputies, who had stated that they will restore independence of the Republic of Latvia in their reelection programme.

Act:

After establishing that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country and that by the will of its people it should be independent, the Supreme Soviet ruled: 1. To recognize the priority of international laws over national laws. To hold to be illegitimate the treaty between the USSR and Germany of 23 August 1939, and the consequent liquidation of independence of Latvia resulting from Soviet military aggression on 17 June 1940.

2. To proclaim the declaration "On accession of Latvia to Soviet Union" of 21 July 1940, to be void from the moment of adoption.

3. To re-establish the authority of the Constitution of Latvia. The official name of the state of Latvia is the Republic of Latvia, in short Latvia.

4. To suspend the Constitution of Latvia until a new edition is adopted, except for the articles, which in accordance with the 77 article of the Constitution can only be amended if submitted to a national referendum: 1. Latvia is an independent democratic republic.

2. The sovereign power of the State of Latvia is vested in the people of Latvia.

3. The territory of the State of Latvia, within the borders established by international agreements, consists of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.

6. The Saeima shall be elected in general, equal and direct elections, and by secret ballot based on proportional representation.

Article 6 shall be applied when the governmental institutions of independent Latvia have been restored, which grant free elections.

5. To set a period of transition to de facto independence until the first session of the new Saeima. During the transitional period the highest power of the state shall be the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia.

6. During the transitional period the Constitution of the Latvian SSR and other laws of the Latvian SSR in force at the time when the declaration was made may be applicable as long as they do not contradict articles 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the Constitution of Latvia. Disputes over the applicability of laws shall be resolved by the Constitutional Court.

During the transitional period laws shall be made or amended only by the Supreme Council.

7. To constitute a committee, which will elaborate a new edition of the Constitution of Latvia, suitable to the current political, economic and social state of Latvia.

8. In accordance with international human rights, to grant social, economic and cultural rights, as well as political freedoms, to the citizens of Latvia and other countries, who reside in the territory of Latvia. This shall fully apply to those citizens of the Soviet Union who chose to reside in Latvia without its citizenship.

9. To build Latvian-Soviet relationships upon the Latvian-Soviet peace treaty of 11 August 1920, in which the Soviet Union recognizes eternal independence for Latvia and which is still in force. To constitute a committee for negotiations with USSR.

Further developments

On 21 August 1991, after the Soviet coup d'état attempt, the Supreme Council adopted a Constitutional law, "On statehood of the Republic of Latvia", declaring Article 5 of the Declaration to be invalid, thus ending the transitional period and restoring de facto independence. However some elements which defined the transitional period remained in force until the first session of the 5th Saeima on 6 July 1993 - The Supreme Council remained the highest power of the state and the constitution was suspended. On 31 July 1990, the Supreme Council formed a work group of 22 deputies, which had to elaborate a new edition of the Constitution until 1 January 1990, though a new edition was never drafted and the Constitution was restored unamended. The Constitutional Court which was intended to resolve Constitutional disputes during the transitional period was only founded in 1996. To comply with international human rights as indicated in Article 8, the Supreme Council adopted a declaration of human rights immediately after the Declaration of independence.

Adoption

The Supreme Soviet was elected on 18 March 1990; it was the first election in Soviet Latvia in which multiple parties were allowed to participate. 201 deputies were elected. The declaration was adopted on 4 May 1990, in an open vote, a majority of two thirds — 132 votes — was required, 138 deputies voted for adoption of the declaration, 1 abstained, while others did not participate in the vote and therefore there were no votes against the declaration.

Response

On 4 May 1990, after the declaration was adopted, the Communist Party of Latvia resolved that it was unconstitutional, contained notable contradictions and historical inaccuracies, and noted that such issues should be decided by referendum. The Communist Party deemed that the declaration might trigger the President of the Soviet Union to take countermeasures, therefore the party should launch a propaganda campaign against the declaration and ask the President of the Soviet Union to annul the declaration of the Supreme Soviet. On 14 May 1990, the President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev issued a decree stating that the declaration violated the Constitution of the Soviet Union and the Constitution of the Latvian SSR and thus stood void from the moment of adoption. The Supreme Council answered that the Constitution of the Soviet Union did not grant the president the right to annul acts adopted

by Supreme Soviets of Soviet republics. Furthermore the Supreme Council announced that the Supreme Soviet, as the legal successor of the People's Saeima, had the right to annul its decisions which contradicted the Constitution of Latvia which was in force at the time these decisions were made and as the Constitution of the Soviet Union ruled that the Soviet Union was founded upon principles of self-determination, but Latvia was forcibly annexed, reference to it had no juridical basis regarding the Latvian SSR. It also noted that the law of the Soviet Union regarding secession from the Soviet Union to which the decree also referred was not in force in the territory of the Latvian SSR as the Supreme Soviet had not ratified it and that the law contradicted the Constitution of the Soviet Union and the Constitution of Latvian SSR, which provided that Soviet republics can freely secede from the Soviet Union. It was stated that the call for a referendum on secession from the Soviet Union to take place has neither a legal or a political basis, because Latvia had been annexed by the Soviet Union without holding a referendum, which was required by the Constitution of Latvia and Latvia was not seceding from the Soviet Union, but restoring its independence. It was noted that the Constitution of the Latvian SSR did not call for a referendum as it had been stated in the decree, but recommended two alternatives - either a referendum or a public debate which had de facto taken place as it had been discussed in the press and several public opinion polls had taken place showing that a majority of the public supported independence. Similarly in the All-Latvian congress of people deputies of 21 April 1990, 8003 had voted for restoration of independence and the declaration had been adopted by a vote of two thirds of members of the Supreme Soviet which was required for constitutional amendments. Furthermore, the Supreme Council referred to the result of elections of Supreme Soviet as a clear indicator of public opinion that supporters of independence had won the election. The Supreme Council stated that by 28 May 1990, it had received letters and telegrams from 646,726 residents of the Republic supporting the declaration and only 8,993 people had expressed opposition. Given these provisions, the Supreme Council stated that the Declaration was legitimate and in force.

Cinco de Mayo Mexico, U.S. - May 05

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla). The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico—which is actually celebrated on September 16.

History

Events leading to Cinco de Mayo:

Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the French occupation of Mexico, which took place in the aftermath of the MexicanAmerican War of 1846-48, the Mexican Civil War of 1858, and the 1860 Reform Wars. These wars left the Mexican Treasury in ruins and nearly bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years. In response, France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, at the time ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor French interests, the Second Mexican Empire.

The French invasion:

Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat. Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City, the French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans near Puebla, at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The 8,000-strong French army attacked the much more poorly equipped Mexican army of 4,000. Yet, on May 5, 1862, the Mexicans managed to decisively crush the French army, one which, according to an article in Philadelphia's The Bulletin daily newspaper, was the best army of the time.

The Mexican victory:

The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large. In the description of The History Channel, "Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement." The description of Time magazine was: "The Puebla victory came to symbolize unity and pride for what seemed like a Mexican David defeating a French Goliath." It helped establish a much-needed sense of national unity and patriotism.

Events after the Battle:

The Mexican victory, however, was short-lived. Thirty thousand troops and a full year later, the French were able to depose the Mexican army, capture Mexico City, and establish Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico. However, the French victory was also short-lived, lasting only 3 years, from 1864 to 1867. With the U.S. Civil War over in 1865, the U.S. was able to provide more assistance to Mexico to expel the French, after which Maximilian I was executed by the Mexicans, along with his Mexican generals Miramón and Mejía, in the Cerro de las Campanas, Queretaro.

Significance

The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons.

First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army. "This battle was significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years." Second, it was significant because since the Battle of Puebla, no country in the Americas has been invaded by any other European military force.

Consequences to the Cinco de Mayo dancers greeted by U.S. President George W. Bush United States Some historians have argued that France's real goal was to help break up the American Union, at the time in the

midst of a civil war, by helping the southern Confederacy: "The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build a powerful army. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War." The consequence of Cinco de Mayo to the United States has been thus recognized: "The defeat of the French army had consequences for America as well...the French defeat denied Napoleon III the opportunity to resupply the Confederate rebels for another year."

Donald W. Miles adds, "At the time, there were fears in the United States that the French would use Mexico as a base to back the Confederacy, so President Lincoln and his Secretary of State went out of their way to appear 'neutral' in the Mexican situation. They did not want to take on the French and the Confederates at the same time". Dr. Miles goes on to explain that "Napoleon III had hesitated to take on the United States directly, but now the news of the Civil War changed everything". It meant that the Americans would be occupied with their conflict between North and South for some time. Upon hearing the Spaniards and the British had sailed off to grab the customs house in Veracruz to start collecting their duties, Napoleon decided he would not only send the French navy, but would also start looking for someone to place as emperor in Mexico. He would then use Mexico as a base to help the Confederates win their war against the United States. Napoleon saw this as an opportunity not to be missed.

Dr. Miles then concludes, "The Emperor of France ordered his generals to spend a few months taking on Mexico and then - using Mexico as a 'base' - help the Confederates win their war against the United States.

What if they had succeeded? The United States would never become the significant world power it is today...the Mexicans not only took their nation back, but influenced the outcome of the U.S. Civil War." Historian Justo Sierra has written in his Political Evolution of the Mexican People, that had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862, France would have gone to the aid of the South in the U.S. Civil War and the United States' destiny could have been very different.

Observances United States:

On June 7, 2005, the U.S. Congress issued a Concurrent Resolution calling on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with ap- Cinco de Mayo performers at propriate ceremonies and activities.

In a 1998 study in the Journal of American Culture it was reported that the White House there were more than 120 official U.S. celebrations of Cinco de Mayo, and they could be found in 21 different states. An update in 2006, found that the number of official Cinco de Mayo events was 150 or more, according to José Alamillo, professor of ethnic studies at Washington State University in Pullman, who has studied the cultural impact of Cinco de Mayo north of the border.

In the United States Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico.Celebrations tend to draw both from traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgen de Guadalupe, and from prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States, including César Chávez. To celebrate, many display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate pupils about its historical significance.

Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. Examples include baile folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles, near Olvera Street. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration, advertising Mexican products and services, with an emphasis on beverages, foods, and music.

History of observance:

Mexicans and Latinos living in California during the American Civil War are credited with being the first to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States.

According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on that day first started in California in the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico. "Far up in the gold country town of Columbia (now Cinco de Mayo celebration in Columbia State Park) Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news Saint Paul, Minnesota that they spontaneously fired off rifles shots and fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches." A 2007 UCLA Newsroom article notes that "The holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously since 1863, is virtually ignored in Mexico." TIME magazine reports that "Cinco de Mayo started to come into vogue in 1940s America during the rise of the Chicano movement." United Press International reports that "The holiday crossed over into the United States in the 1950s and 1960s but didn't gain popularity until the 1980s when marketers, especially beer companies, capitalized on the celebratory nature of the day and began to promote it."

Mexico:

Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday limited primarily to the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country.

Elsewhere:

Events tied to Cinco de Mayo also occur outside Mexico and the United States. For example, a sky-diving club near Vancouver, Canada, holds a Cinco de Mayo skydiving event. In the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitarcompetition. As far away as the island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, revelers are encouraged to drink Mexican beer on May 5.The city of Brisbane, Australia, also holds an annual Mexican Festival to honour the day.

Constitution Day Kyrgyzstan - May 05

Kyrgyzstan marks the Constitution Day today. This is a public holiday in the country. May 5, 1993 has become a historical date when sovereignty of the Kyrgyz Republic has been formalized. During the last years, the wording of the Constitution was changed entirely 4 times. In 2006 the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic was changed twice, first time -- in November during large scale rallies of the opposition at the central square of the capital city.

According to experts, the November 2006 wording of the Constitution actually made Kyrgyzstan the parliamentary republic.

Yet, the Constitution was amended on December 30, when more powers to the president were given. At the beginning of September 2007 the Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic invalidated the process of adoption of the November and December wordings of the Constitution by the Parliament. In the result, the country came back to the 2003 wording of the Constitution.

Coronation Day Thailand - M a y 0 5

The coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej took place on 5 May 1950. His Majesty is the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty. On 5 May of every year, the Thai people rejoice and express their affection and loyalty to him by organizing a celebration on his coronation day.

Prior to the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut), there was no coronation ceremony in Thailand, there was only private ceremony held by high ranking officials to celebrate their Royal Regalia and positions in the 6th lunar month.

A coronation, however, took place for the first time when King Rama IV was crowned on 15 May 1851. King Mongkut thought that the Coronation was an auspicious occasion but thought that it would be dificult to explain the meaning of the coronation day to his subjects in detail, he thus called this day as a “ceremony to commemorate the Royal Regalia” but was quite similar to that of a coronation.

On that day (the 13th of the full moon in the 6th lunar month), following day monks were invited to have meal at the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall in Grand Palace.During the reign of the present king, the ceremony is performed for three days. The first day falls on 3 May in which the following ceremony will be performed; the king performs a merit-making ceremony at the Audience Hall of Amarindra in dedication to the deceased kings while Buddhist monks chant, give a sermon and perform a requiem on the royal ashes of the deceased kings.

On 4 May, the Coronation Ceremonies begin with the proclamation of the Coronation Day read by the Chief of Brahmin priests followed by an evening chanting performed by Buddhist monks. Finally, 5 May is the actual date of the ceremony in which food is to be offered to monks and followed by a celebration of the Royal Regalia. At noon the Army and Navy fire a 21-gun salute in honour of the king. On this day, His Majesty the King also presents the royal decorations to the people who have made a valuable contribution to the country.

Midwives Day Worldwide - May 05

International Midwives' Day was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world.

The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands.

History It is known that midwives have been

making efforts to meet internationally for over 100 years. There are records of a midwives´ conference held in Berlin, Germany, in the year 1900, when over 1,000 midwives attended.

You may wish to consider for a moment that this was arranged without the use of telephones, computers, credit cards or aeroplanes - and took place at a time when women travelling on their own was difficult and not always acceptable.

In 1919, a group of European midwives, centred in Antwerp, Belgium, established the first beginnings of what was to become the International Confederation of Midwives. By this time, many countries already had a national association of midwives; communication among them increased and a series of regular meetings was launched.

During the 1930s and 1940s, travel and communication in Europe was disrupted by war and unrest. Unfortunately, the detailed records of the earlier midwives´ meetings and documents were destroyed. However, the desire to continue international work was still strong. In 1954, the initiative grew again and this time the location was London, UK. For the first time, the name of ´International Confederation of Midwives´ was decided, and also the idea of regular triennial congresses was established. Since 1954 the series of such meetings every three years has remained unbroken.

The ICM now has over 100 members – all autonomous midwifery associations, from around 100 countries spanning four regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe. Each member association sends delegates to the ICM Council, which is the overall governing body; each region elects representatives to a smaller board, which oversees the continuing business of the Confederation.

The ICM Council decided in 1999 to move the location of the headquarters office from London to The Hague, in the Netherlands, and it has been established there ever since. The headquarters permanent staff has increased from the appointment in 1987 of one part-time executive secretary, to the present larger group including the Secretary General, Programme Co-ordinator, Communications Manager and other part-time administrative assistance. The ICM journal, International Midwifery, is now in its 18th year of communicating "to, from and among midwives across the world" and the ICM website at www.internationalmidwives.org has been assisting speedier access to ICM news and activities since 2000.

International congresses are held every three years. The site of each is decided six years ahead, and the event is co-hosted by ICM and one of its member associations. Venues over the past 50 years have included Jerusalem, Kobe, Manila, Santiago, Sydney, Vancouver and Washington, as well as numerous European cities. These congresses have become the major regular focus for midwives’ global business, professional and scientific meetings.

In addition, regional meetings and conferences are often held in the years between congresses.

The ICM's Mission is to "advance world-wide the aims and aspirations of midwives in the attainment of improved outcomes for women in their childbearing years, their newborn and their families wherever they reside".

Children's Day Japan - May 05

Children's Day (こどもの日 Kodomo no Hi?) is a Japanese national holiday which takes place annually on May 5, the fifth day of the fifth month, and is part of the Golden Week. It is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was designated a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948.

no Sekku Tango The day was originally called Tango no Sekku (端午の節句),

and was celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th moon in the lunar calendar or Chinese calendar. After Japan's switch to the Gregorian calendar, the date was moved to May 5. The festival is still celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as the Duanwu Festival or Tuen Ng Festival (Cantonese), in Korea as the Dano Festival, and Vietnam as the Tết Đoan Ngọ on the traditional lunar calendar date. It was originally for boys but has since been changed to include both boys and girls.

Sekku means a season's festival (there are five sekku per year). Tango no Sekku marks the beginning of summer or the rainy season. Tan means "edge" or "first" and go means "noon".

Although it is not known precisely when this day started to be celebrated, it was probably during the reign of the Empress Suiko (593–628 A.D.). In Japan, Tango no Sekku was assigned to the fifth day of the fifth month after the Nara period.

Until recently, Tango no Sekku was known as Boys' Day (also known as Feast of Banners) while Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri) was celebrated on March 3. In 1948, the government decreed this day to be a national holiday to celebrate the happiness of all children and to express gratitude toward mothers. It was renamed Kodomo no Hi. Before this day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), one for each boy (or child), display a Kintarō doll usually riding on a large carp, and the traditional Japanese military helmet, kabuto. Kintarō and the kabuto are symbols of a strong and healthy boy.

Kintarō (金太郎) is the childhood name of Sakata no Kintoki who was a hero in the Heian period, a subordinate samurai of Minamoto no Raikou, having been famous for his strength when he was a child. It is said that Kintarō rode a bear, instead of a horse, and played with animals in the mountains when he was a young boy.

Mochi rice cakes wrapped in kashiwa (oak) leaves—kashiwa-mochi (mochi filled with red bean jam) and chimaki (a kind of "sweet rice paste", wrapped in an iris or bamboo leaf)—are traditionally served on this day.

Prague Uprising - 1945 Czech Republic - May 05

May the people of the Czech uprising was an armed uprising of the Czech people against the German invaders in the second World War II in the Czech Republic, which took place in early May 1945 . Actively attended by about 130 000 people plus 14 000 (part of them were Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian ethnicity) guerrillas. Another 100 000 people helped build barricades in Prague.

Preparing for the insurgency

With the approaching end of the war, the military leaders of Hitler's Germany realized that the end of the Third Reich is unavoidable, and their only hope was the desire to create rift between the Allies and German troops involved in the fighting against the Soviet Union alongside the U.S. , Britain and France . On the territory of Bohemia and Moravia should be created "Fortress" where it should be worth millions Schörner army stopped the procedure the Red Army , which was important to avoid the expected uprising of the Czech population, which was prepared by the Czech resistance .Already in 1944 the aktivizovala guerrilla war that led to the western, eastern revolt there.

Conditions were prepared for the transportation of weapons from abroad and capture the weapons they produced Czech arms factories. In the second half of the year played an increasingly important role in resistance organization , the Council of three . There was výsadkům penetration and guerrilla groups in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia , among which played a big role to play, Guerrilla Brigade Jan Žižka , partisan divisions Jermak , Miroslav Tyrš , John Kozina , and Jan Hus . Other guerrilla groups began to occur mainly in March and April 1945 , when the culmination of a guerrilla struggle against the German occupiers, and particularly in the eastern and western Moravia (Wallachia and Highland ), there were also open to guerrilla warfare. There were more assaults German columns were discharged from the fuel tank, vykolejovány trains, blown bridges. Eg. 10th April was an important rail track fired Brno - Jihlava , which was not until the end of the war corrected. At this event, was blown up by a German military transport which killed or injured nearly 200 people. In addition to the actions of diverse assaults on the track were the Nazi crew, ammunition depots, military installations, was punctuated by electric and telephone and telegraph lines.

The outbreak of the uprising

By late April Soviet troops has two operations - Ostrava and Prague-Brno liberated part of Moravia, with a subsequent report on Hitler's death given us reason for defiance. uprising began on 1 May Přerov when spread wrong messages about the surrender of Germany . It was disarming German and Hungarian troops took the power of the National Committee . The revolt spread to the same day in Olomouc and the surrounding communities, but are affected unit SS .

But insurgents have managed to stop the transport and disposal of industrial equipment and supplies that the Germans wanted to take away from Ostrava, Vsetínsko and Zlín. 2nd May rose Nymburk , Podebrady , Chlumec over Cidlinou , Upice next day Semily , Zelezny Brod , Turnov , Jilemnice , Old and New Paka , Pribram , Beroun , Vizovice , 4th May Vsetin andKladno , 5th May Louny , Jindrichuv Hradec , Rokycany , Klatovy , Domazlice etc. for about a thousand sites have been reported anti-occupation demonstrations, which consisted of posting Czechoslovak flags, banners, Germany's disposal, destruction indicative tables to celebrate the liberation demonstrations, protest actions against the occupation authorities Were also like to strikes in factories and confiscating weapons from the arms race in favor of the insurgents. The negotiations on the takeover took place more than 120 locations Protectorate. In some areas of the insurgency burst through the activities of guerrilla groups, which are increasingly entering into open warfare. Eg. in Vsetín fourth attack May Guerrilla Brigade Jan Žižka the Germans , who began to perform the work in the city of destruction, which had to be stopped. The city was the fourth the afternoon free units first Czechoslovak Army Corps .

Guerrilla groups have also played a major role in the foothills and elsewhere.

Prague (and others) Rebellion

On 5 broke out in May uprising in the capital city of Prague . The Czech National Council issued a statement about the end of the Protectorate and the takeover of government and executive power. Here first demonstration took place, but soon moved into open opposition.Insurgents in Prague and throughout the territory of Bohemia and Moravia in strength of arms, occupies the post, rail and major road intersections. The odbojovým and guerrilla groups were added one thousand rebels from the Czech population, ex-military, gendarmerie, and the Soviet liberation of prisoners working at menial jobs in the Protectorate. Occupiers were prevented from removal made machinery, equipment and vehicles to Germany , to prevent the destruction of factories, etc. (plan ARLZ - scorched earth tactics). Insurgents prevented a continuous supply of the front and a retreat organized by the Wehrmacht .

The uprising, which erupted in 37 cities and 240 villages, got in some tough places Counterstrike - German troops began to occupy the major roads, streets, intersections, railway stations and posts, was announced by the state of emergency , the occupants hostage and murdered interested to intimidate the Czech population. Their goal was not to allow the creation of a continuous rebel territory. However, insurgents have managed to bind itself with great force of German troops that could be used to suppress the uprising in Prague . Countryside Prague supplied not only food but also medical equipment and light weapons were zbudovávány roadblocks thrown bridges that Wehrmachtunits and the Waffen SS as much as transport is difficult. The resistance of the population continued in the countryside, where he is constantly expanding. In many places there was an open battle, elsewhere only to sabotage actions. Germans are increasingly resorting to assassinations and massacres of the Czech population, which took as hostages or decapitating the warning, not only in Prague , but virtually throughout the occupied territories of Bohemia and Moravia.

On 8 May 1945 began a retreat Staff Field Marshal Ferdinand Schorner , who was at Hořic rebels attacked and partially scattered. A day later, the crew was broken at the Saaz tank armies Red Army . 8th May at 16.00 pm was among the German leadership and the Czech National Council signed a protocol that allowed the Germans to Prague with a passage that is to stop fighting.

However, the fighting lasted even after the signing of the unconditional surrender of Germany on the 8th May 1945 , when German troops tried to surrender to the U.S. Army because of Soviet captivity, fears. These fighting units of the participants in the Waffen SS , but it was the exception that the names of the participating units and the Wehrmacht .

Even from 9 to 11 May there was sporadic fighting and killings of civilians Czech. Eg. in the village Lejčková Tabor shot on the ninth May the German troops to the people who came to watch the road retreat of German army to shoot unarmed civilians there and elsewhere. Last shots fell on the 11th May 1945 Milína in Pribram , where units of the SS elicited a white flag partisan parliamentarian and shot them. 1945th Then the battle began, in which an open confrontation with the Germans fell 60 Czech partisans.

In total, Czech uprising required in Prague 3700 lives, in the Czech and Moravian countryside died about 8000 other people, while the number of victims are included as people who fought against the invaders, the Nazis and murdered civilians. Czech uprising in May significantly undermine the German leadership's intentions to build a "fortress" that should be defended to the rift between Western powers and the USSR . Avoid the widespread and devastating military engagements in the Czech Republic and probably was also shortened the war.

Senior Citizen's Day Palau - M a y 0 5

Palau celebrates Senior Citizen’s Day on the 5th of March every year. The holiday aims to recognize the important role played by the old folks when they were still young. Palau citizens believe that how the young treat its old citizens is a reflection of their culture and their personal values.

History Palau is one of the few countries

in the world with comprehensive programs on the welfare of old citizens. It dedicates this holiday to people whose age fall from 55 and up.

Palau also provides trips to Airai, Ngardmau, and Melekeok, for senior citizens during the celebration. The holiday is a clear indication that Palau’s culture shows appreciation and value to the elders and that the bonds between the elderly and the youth is still strong and that the seniors are the clear link to Palau’s national heritage and traditions.

Celebrations

During Senior Citizens’ Day, local dance performances from seniors and children are held along with handicraft exhibitions. Parades with colourful floats are common in streets during the holiday with senior citizen contingents coming different sectors of society.

It is also during this time when the government announces important projects or laws pertaining to this sector and reports on the many developments for the welfare of its senior citizens. Local governments invite key senior citizens in the region for seminars, and luncheons.

Senior Citizens’ Day is a public holiday; it is a work-free day and government offices including the congress are closed.

Liberation Day Netherlands - M a y 0 5

In the Netherlands, Liberation Day (Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is celebrated each year on May 5th, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. The nation was liberated largely by Canadian troops, with the assistance of the British and American Armies (see Operation Market Garden) and French airborne (see Operation Amherst).

On the 5th of May 1945, the Canadian General Charles Foulkes and the German Commander-in-Chief Johannes Blaskowitz reached an agreement on the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands in Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. One day later, the capitulation document was signed in the auditorium of Wageningen University, located next-door to the hotel.

After the liberation in 1945, Liberation Day was commemorated every 5 years. Finally, in 1990, the day was declared to be a national holiday, when the liberation would be commemorated and celebrated every year.

On May 4th, the Dutch hold the Remembrance of the Dead for the people who fought and died during World War II, and in wars in general. There is a remembrance gathering in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam and at the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam. Throughout the country, two minutes of silence are observed at 8:00 p.m. On May 5th, the liberation is celebrated and festivals are held at most places in the Netherlands.

Battle of Puebla Mexico - M a y 0 5

The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5th, 1862, near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces. The French eventually overran the Mexicans in subsequent battles, but the Mexican victory at Puebla against a much better equipped and larger French army provided a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and also helped slow the French army's advance towards Mexico City.

There were a total of 10,540 soldiers in the war. 462 French soldiers died in combat.

Only 83 Mexican soldiers died in the battle.

The Mexican victory is celebrated yearly on the fifth of May. Its celebration is regional in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is celebrated as El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: Battle of Puebla Day). There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country although this holiday remains very popular in the United States where it is celebrated yearly as Cinco de Mayo.

Background

The 1858–60 Mexican civil war known as The Reform War had caused distress throughout Mexico's economy. When taking office as the elected president in 1861, Benito Juárez was forced to suspend payments of interest on foreign debts for a period of two years. At the end of October 1861 diplomats from Spain, France, and Britain met in London to form the Tripartite Alliance, with the main purpose of launching an allied invasion of Mexico, taking control of Veracruz, its major port, and forcing the Mexican government to negotiate terms for repaying its debts and for reparations for alleged harm to foreign citizens in Mexico. In December 1861, Spanish troops landed in Veracruz; British and French followed in early January. The allied forces occupied Veracruz and advanced to Orizaba. However, the Tripartite Alliance fell apart by early April 1862, when it became clear the French wanted to impose harsh demands on the Juarez government and provoke a war. The British and Spanish withdrew, leaving the French to march alone on Mexico City.

Napoleon III wanted to set up a puppet Mexican regime.

Army Day Bulgaria - M a y 0 6

Bulgaria celebrates, May 6, the Day of Saint George the Victorious, and the Day of the Bulgarian Army.

May 6 was officially pronounced as the Day of the Bulgarian Army on January 9, 1880, shortly after the establishment of the country's military with a decree of Knyaz Alexander Battenberg.

After the Communist regime came to power, in 1946, the holiday was banned to be reinstated on January 27, 1993 with a decision of the Bulgarian cabinet.

Since 1998 it has been marked as a national holiday, and it is a day off for workers across the country.

On the sidelines of the celebrations of the Day of Bulgarian army, May 6 marks also the national feast Gergyovden, the day of one of the most popular saints - St. George, who is among the few venerated

by Christians and Muslims alike.

Saint George the Victorious (Pobedonosets), canonized by the Church because of his brave deeds, is usually painted on icons as riding a white horse with his lance stabbed in the throat of a beast - the dragon. Legend has it that the dragon used to attack the shepherds and their sheep and steal a sheep or a lamb. The shepherds were desperate. Then St. George appeared and killed the dragon.

The holy martyr St. George the Victor has been considered one of the most important Saints ever since Christianity became the official state religion in Bulgaria in the 9th century.

In Bulgaria St. George is the patron of spring verdure and fertility, and of shepherds and farmers. His Day, May 6, is believed to set in summer and the new farming cycle.

A common ritual is to cook and eat a whole lamb, which is an ancient practice possibly related to Slavic pagan sacrificial traditions and the fact that St. George is the patron saint of shepherds.

Special place on the table is attributed to the ritual Gergyovden bread. All sorts of bread are made for the feast - the cross bread, the shepherd's bread, the large ring-bread, as well as small ones, or the special ring-shaped bun baked by the young wife in the house.

In Bulgaria, May 6 is the name day of Georgi and Gancho for the males, and of Gergana, Ginka, Galiya for the females.

Martyr's Day Lebanon, Syria - M a y 0 6

Syria shares the celebration of Martyr’s Day with Lebanon on the 6th of May every year. The holiday commemorates the death of both Syria and Lebanon’s nationalists during the occupation by the Ottoman Empire. The nationalists were executed on May 6, 1916 in Marjeh Square (Damascus, Syria) and Burj Square (Beirut, Lebanon) respectively by the Ottoman Young Turk Ahmed Djemal or more commonly known as Jamal Pasha.

History

Syria has been under the control of the Ottoman Empire since the latter part of the 15th century until the downfall of the latter on May 1916.

The march towards Syrian independence was long and bloody.

The earlier part of the 20th century saw the birth of Syrian intellectuals who heavily campaigned for the independence of Syria from the Ottoman rule. The clandestine conferences and meetings they had with other intellectuals in Paris, France were made known to the Turks. As a result, Sultan Abdul Hamid ordered the arrest of these Arab leaders and forced to renounce their nationalist ideals and plans towards a democratic and independent Syria. However, the nationalists bravely stood by their resolve and bravely faced their destiny so that in May 6, 1916, all of them were executed by hanging in Damascus and Beirut.

The nationalists executed were Shukri al-Assali, Omar al-Jazairi, Rushdi al-Shamaa, Abdelhamid al-Zahrawi, Shafiq al-Muayyad, and. Abdel Wahab al-Englizi. Their martyrdom has created strong international ties between the Syria and Lebanon since then.

Celebrations

Leaders of Syria and Lebanon celebrate this day by visiting the war memorial in Damascus, Syria, particularly the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier a memorial tomb dedicated to the Syrian soldiers who perished in the war against the Ottoman Empire.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was built in 1994 shape like a dome with an arch right above it.

The monument is famous for the five large paintings displayed along the hall which depicts the five heroic battles fought in the history of Arab nations namely: Battle of Yarmouk, Battle of Sultan Yacoub, Battle of Mount Hermon, Battle of Maysaloun, and the Battle of Hattin.

The government of Syria may hold a luncheon or banquet for the children or relatives of the martyrs as a way of paying respects to the bravery of martyrs. Public speeches coming from local government officials delivered in behalf of the president are held every year in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus.

Samuel K. Doe Day Liberia - M a y 0 6

Samuel Kanyon Doe (May 6, 1951 – September 9, 1990) was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previo u s l y served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.

Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland Liberia. The Krahn are a minority ethnic group but part of the large majority of the Liberian population that are of indigenous descent. These groups faced economic and political domination by the Americo-Liberian elites, who were descended from free-born and formerly enslaved blacks from America who founded Liberia in 1847.

Under Doe, Liberian ports were opened to Canadian, Chinese and European ships, which brought in considerable foreign investment from foreign shipping firms and earned Liberia a reputation as a tax haven.

Doe attempted to legitimize his regime with a new constitution in 1984 and elections in 1985. However, opposition to his rule only increased, especially after the 1985 elections which were declared to be fraudulent by the U.S. and other foreign observers. In the late 1980s, as fiscal austerity took hold in the United States and the threat of Communism declined with the waning of the Cold War, the U.S. became disenchanted with entrenched corruption in Doe's government and began cutting off critical foreign aid to Doe. This, combined with the popular anger generated by Doe's favoritism toward his native Krahn tribe, placed him in a very precarious position.

A civil war began in December 1989, when rebels intent on toppling Doe entered Liberia. Doe's forces were defeated, and in September 1990 he was captured, tortured, and killed.

St. George's Day (Orthodox) Worldwide - M a y 0 6

Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George.

It is celebrated by various Christian Churches and by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. Saint George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in 303 AD. For Eastern Orthodox Churches (which use the Julian calendar), '23 April' currently falls on 6 May of the Gregorian calendar.

Since Easter often falls close to Saint George's Day, the church celebration of the feast may be moved from 23 April. In England, where it is the National Saint's Day, for 2011 and 2014 the Anglican and Catholic calendars celebrate Saint George's Day on the first Monday after the Octave of Easter (see Easter Week) (2 May 2011 and 28 April 2014, respectively). Similarly, the Eastern Orthodox celebration of the feast moves accordingly to the first Monday after Easter or, as it is sometimes called, to the Monday of Bright Week.

Celebrations Countries that celebrate St George's Day in-

clude Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, England, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia.

Cities include Genoa in Italy, Beirut in Lebanon, Qormi and Victoria in Malta, Moscow in Russia, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and many others. It is also celebrated in the old Crown of Aragon in Spain –Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Majorca.

St George's Day is known as the Feast of Saint George by Palestinians and is celebrated in the Monastery of Saint George in al-Khader, near Bethlehem. It is also known as Georgemas.

Besides 23 April feast, some Orthodox Churches have additional feasts dedicated to Saint George and the Dragon St George. The country of Georgia celebrates Oil painting by Raphael (1505–1506) the feast St. George on 23 April and, more prominently, 10 November (Julian calendar), which currently fall on 6 May and 23 November (Gregorian calendar), respectively. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the dedication of the Church of St George in Kiev by Yaroslav the Wise in 1051 on 26 November (Julian calendar), which currently falls on the Gregorian 9 December.

In the General Calendar of the Roman Rite, the feast of Saint George is on 23 April. In the Tridentine Calendar it was given the rank of "Semidouble".

In Pope Pius XII's 1955 calendar this rank is reduced to "Simple". In Pope John XXIII's 1960 calendar the celebration to just a "Commemoration". In Pope Paul VI's revision of the calendar, that came into force in the 1969 it was given the equivalent rank of a "Memorial", of optional use. In some countries, such as England, the rank is higher.

St George's feast is ranked higher in England and in certain other regions.

It is the second most important National Feast in Catalonia, where the day is known in Catalan as La Diada de Sant Jordi, and it is traditional to give a rose and a book to a loved one.

Under the state atheism of former Eastern Bloc countries, the celebration of Saint George's Day was historically suppressed.

UNESCO declared this day the International Day of the Book, since 23 April 1616 was the date of death and possibly anniversary of birth of both the English playwright William Shakespeare (according to the Julian calendar) and the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes (according to the Gregorian A child with an English flag calendar). and hat on St. George's Day 23 April is also the anniversary of the St. George Dragons Rugby League Football Club. The St George club coincidentally played their inaugural NSWRL first grade match on St George's Day, 23 April 1921 at the Sydney Sports Ground in Australia.

Hidirellez Festival Turkey - M a y 0 6

When looked at antiquity (ancient times) in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran, Greece and even in countries surrounding the Mediterranean it has been seen that rituals and celebrations had been performed in the name of some Gods in relation with arrival of spring or summer. Documents showing that one of the oldest of these rituals had been performed in Ur city of Mesopotamia by the end of III. Thousand B.C.. The said ritual had been performed at the end of Winter in the name of “Tammuz” representing stimulating power of Euphrates (Fırat) and Tigris (Dicle) irrigating Mesopotamia plain. Upon arrival of Spring revival of nature and prosperity and abundance and productivity had been celebrated by festivals in the name of the God called “Dumuzi”. It has been known that culture of “Tammuz” had been transferred to the ancient Greece and Anatolia via Hebrew over Syria and Egypt.

Arrival of Spring or Summer which means revival of Nature and its starting to live again is an important event in the life of human being in every corner of the World. A widespread belief in connection with tradition of “Hıdırellez” is performance of a celebration for commemoration of the date on which “Hızır” and “İlyas” came together. The day of “Hıdırellez” has been generally celebrated on May 6th. In some regions May 5th has been accepted as the day of Festival and May 6th as the day of “Hıdırellez” and ceremonies have been arranged accordingly. The day of “Hıdırellez” (Ruz-ı Hızır) has been considered as the beginning of Summer in the Public Calendar. According to the Public Calendar among Turks one year has been divided into two sections. The period from the day of “Hıdırellez” (May 6th) to November 8th is 186 days and mentioned under the name of “Hızır Days”. This period has been named as the Summer season. The second period extending from November 8th to May 6th is the Winter season and named as “Days of November”, lasting 179 days.

Traditions, beliefs, ceremonies established around “Hıdırellez” have been confused generally with “Sultan Nevruz” and other traditions and ceremonies performed for meeting the Spring. Because Spring Festivals have been concentrated on several important days. In this connection it is possible to see whole of “Hıdırellez” or other Spring ceremonies in the course of celebration of any one of them.

In Turkish communities both in Anatolia and out of Anatolia with the approach of “Hıdırellez” assorted preparations have been made. Houses have been thoroughly cleaned up, household effects, kitchenware, clothes have been cleaned from top to toe. These works have been performed in order to have “Hızır” (A.S.) visit the house. On the other hand on “Hıdırellez” day lamb or kid, assortment of dishes have been cooked, and in the mean time preparation of a lot of food has been completed. In some regions there are some people who meet “Hıdırellez” by fasting (oruç) one day before the day of “Hıdırellez”. Upon completion of all preparations people go to the nearest picnic places full of trees and having spring and try to pass the day of “Hıdırellez” happily with various plays, entertainments.

Places where “Hıdırellez” has been celebrated are generally watery and green areas. In conformity with the tradition there are picnic places called “Hıdırlık” at various regions of Anatolia. At these regions such customs as visiting tombs of great religious leaders, vowing or tying a piece of cloth at such places as graveyard, tomb of a holy person (saint), etc. which have been considered sacred places by indigenous people have also been exercised.

Of course the most important ceremony exercised in “Hıdırellez” is the “play of wish”. It has been exercised in order that young girls become lucky, determine their fortune. According to regions the play has different names: drawing lots of wish, fortune pot, lucky, prosperity, etc. The play has been performed as follows: water brought in a pitcher is poured in a pot. Everybody throws a sign into the pot holding water. Such signs may be also sweet basil, mint, “mantuvar” flower in addition to usually ring, earring, etc. The pot is covered with a cloth on the eve of “Hıdırellez” and placed under a rosewood. A lock is put on the pot and locked as a custom. On the other day girls coming together again take the pot under rosewood. Lock is opened and one of them starts to draw lots. In the mean time folk songs are sung. Each folk song is accepted for the fate of the girl whose sign is drawn. This play goes on until the last sign is drawn. In folk songs which have been sung during performance of the play such themes as hope, joy, firmness, love, affection, tenderness, goodness, brotherhood, living abroad, patriotism, etc have been treated.

One of the widespread beliefs concerning the day of “Hıdırellez” has shown itself in the tradition of making yoghurt.

On the day of “Hıdırellez” yoghurt is made without using ferment. If it becomes yoghurt it is believed that “Hızır” visited home.

National Nurses Day U.S. - M a y 0 6

National Nurses Day, also known as National RN Recognition Day, is always celebrated on May 6thand opens National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, the birth date of Florence Nightingale.

National Nurses Week is one of the nation's largest health care events, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurses make and educating the public about the significant work they perform. The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports and encourages National Nurses Week through state and district nurses associations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions. The week-long celebration is designed to accommodate the variety of schedules nurses are required to work.

Activities during National Nurses Week typically include banquets and recognition dinners, state and city proclamations, continuing education seminars, and other community events. Nurses are typically honored with gifts, dinners, and flowers by friends and family members, coworkers such as doctors and administrators, and patients who want to show their appreciation.

The history of Nurses Day can be traced back to 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year.

The proclamation was never made, but the following year National Nurses Week was observed from October 11 – 16, marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea.

In 1974, President Nixon proclaimed a "National Nurse Week." In 1981, a resolution was initiated by nurses in New Mexico to have May 6th declared "National Recognition Day for Nurses." This proposal was promoted by the ANA Board of Directors and in 1982, with a joint resolution, the United States Congress designated May 6th to be "National Recognition Day for Nurses." The proposal was signed by President Reagan, making May 6 the official "National Recognition Day for Nurses." It was later expanded by the ANA Board of Directors in 1990 to a week-long celebration (May 6-12) known as "National Nurses Week."

National Student Nurses Day is celebrated each year on May 8th. At the request of the National Student Nurses Association, the ANA Board of Directors designated May 8th as National Student Nurses Day beginning in 1998.

And as of 2003, the ANA has declared that National School NurseDay is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12th of each year. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates this day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day Kit which includes educational and public information materials for use by nurses everywhere. The ICN has celebrated International Nurses Day since 1965.

Hari Hol Pahang Malaysia - M a y 0 7

Hari Hol Pahang falls on 7th May in the State of Pahang, Malaysia. This day commemorates key historical events to honor the past Sultan, ruler of the state and announced as a public holiday.

V-E Day Int’l - M a y 0 8

Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) commemorates May 8, 1945 (in commonwealth countries; May 7,1945), the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until May 9, 1945. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and ratified on 8 May in Berlin, Germany.

Celebrations

In the United Kingdom, more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. In the UK, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall toBuckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime MinisterWinston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before the cheering crowds. PrincessElizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander anonymously among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.

In the United States, President Harry Truman, who turned 61 that day, dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April.

Flags remained at half-mast for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period. Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and especially in New York City'sTimes Square. Victory celebrations in Canada were marred by the Halifax Riot.

Soviet Victory Day:

As the Soviet Union was to the east of Germany it was May 9 Moscow Time when German military surrender became effective, which is why Eastern European countries like Russia and former Soviet republics commemorate Victory Day on May 9 instead of May 8.

May 8 as public holiday

• United Kingdom - 1995 May Day Bank Holiday was moved from 1 May to 8 May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War. • The former East Germany as Tag der Befreiung (Day of Liberation), a public holiday from 1950 to 1966 and in 1985. Between 1975 and 1990, as Tag des Sieges (Victory Day (May 9)).

• The German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, since 2002, a commemorative day as Tag der Befreiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the 2nd World War).

• France as Victoire 1945 • Slovakia as Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom (Victory over Fascism Day) • Czech Republic as Den vítězství or Den osvobození (Day of Liberation) • Norway as "Frigjøringsdagen" (Liberation Day) • Denmark (May 5) as "Befrielsen" (The Liberation) • The Netherlands (May 5) as "Bevrijdingsdag" (Liberation Day) • Ukraine (9 May) Victory Day

Parent's Day South Korea - May 08

In South Korea, Parent's Day is annually held on May 8th. Parent's Day is celebrated by both the public and the government. Family events focus on the parents; popular actions include giving parents Carnations. Public events are led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare include public celebrations and awards.

The origins of Parent's Day can be traced back to the 1930s. Starting in 1930, some Christian communities began to celebrate Mother's Day or Parents' Day. This tradition was combined with Korea's traditional Confucianism culture to eventually establish Mother's Day. In 1956, the State Council of South Korea designated May 8th as an annual Mother's Day. However, the question of Father's Day was discussed and on March 30, 1973, May 8th was designated as Parents' Day under Presidential Decree 6615, or the Regulations Concerning Various Holidays (각종 기념일 등에 관 한 규정). When Parents' Day was first established, the entire week with the 8th day was designated to be a week to respect the elderly, but this was abolished in 1997 with October becoming the month designated for respecting the elderly.

Red Cross Day Worldwide - M a y 0 8

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, sex,religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

The movement consists of several distinct organizations that are legally independent from each other, but are united within the movement through common basic principles, objectives, symbols, statutes and governing organs. The movement's parts are: • The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, by Henry Dunant. Its 25-member committee has a unique authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. The ICRC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions (in 1917, 1944 and 1963).

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 and today it coordinates activities between the 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within the Movement. On an international level, the Federation leads and organizes, in close cooperation with the National Societies, relief assistance missions responding to large-scale emergencies. The International Federation Secretariat is based inGeneva, Switzerland. In 1963, the Federation (then known as the League of Red Cross Societies) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the ICRC. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every country in the world. Currently • 186 National Societies are recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members of the Federation. Each entity works in its home country according to the principles of international humanitarian law and the statutes of the international Movement. Depending on their specific circumstances and capacities, National Societies can take on additional humanitarian tasks that are not directly defined by international humanitarian law or the mandates of the international Movement. In many countries, they are tightly linked to the respective national health care system by providing emergency medical services.

Indian Heritage Day Guyana - M a y 0 8

In Guyana the holiday is celebrated on May 8th commemorating the first arrival of indentured servants from India to the country, on May 8, 1838. On this day, the workers arrived in Guyana to work in sugar plantations. Their descendants today comprise 44 percent of Guyana's population of over 750,000.

Day of Memory and Reconciliation Ukraine - M a y 0 8

National memorial day as part of events to mark the allied victory over Nazi Germany in WWII. As well as traditional Victory Day celebrations on 9 May, this year Ukraine will also host a new Day of Memory and Reconciliation on 8 May. The Soviet victory of Nazi Germany has become a key flashpoint in the identity conflict which has gripped Ukraine since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Soviet sympathizers have traditionally adopted a hardline approach towards efforts to rehabilitate Ukrainian independence fighters who fought against both Soviet and Nazi forces during WWII, while for many Ukrainians the conflict remains above all a human tragedy.

During WWII, Hitler prioritized the southern flank of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, making Ukraine one of the key battlefields in the global conflict.

Millions of Ukrainian perished in the conflict, while millions more were also shipped to the Third Reich as slave labour, only to be sent to Soviet Gulag camps upon their 'liberation' from Nazi captivity.

Victory Day Int’l - M a y 0 9

Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union and most post-Soviet states). It was first inaugurated in the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May, by Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.

Though the official inauguration happened in 1945 (which means it has been celebrated since 1946), the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in some of the countries.

In communist East Germany, a Sovietstyle "Victory Day" on 9 May was an official holiday from 1975 until the end of the republic in 1990. Prior to that, "Liberation Day" was celebrated on 8 May, between 1950 and 1966, and again on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Since 2002, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has observed a commemoration day known as the "Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War".

In 1988, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Victory Day ceased to be observed in Uzbekistan, but was partially restored in 1999 as Memorial/Remembrance Day. After their separation from the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries now commemorate the end of WWII on 8 May, the Victory in Europe Day. But many people in Baltic countries still gather to celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May.

History

Two separate capitulation events took place at the time. First, the capitulation to the Allied nations inReims was signed on 7 May 1945, effective 23:01 CET 8 May. This date is commonly referred to as the V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) in most western European countries. The other World War II victory day, the V-J day (Victory in Japan Day) is commemorated in August, and is of considerably lesser significance in Europe.

However, the Soviet Union's only representative in Reims was General Ivan Susloparov, the Military Liaison Mission Commander. General Susloparov's scope of authority was not entirely clear, and he had no means of immediate contact with the Kremlin, but nevertheless decided to sign for the Soviet side. Susloparov was caught off guard; he had no instructions from Moscow. But if he did not sign, he risked a German surrender without Soviet participation.

However, he noted that it could be replaced with a new version in the future. Joseph Stalin was later displeased by these events, believing that the German surrender should have been accepted only by the envoy of the USSR Supreme command and signed only in Berlin and insisted the Reims protocol be considered preliminary, with the main ceremony to be held in Berlin, where Marshal Zhukov was at the time, as the latter recounts in his memoirs: “[Quoting Stalin:] Today, in Reims, Germans signed the preliminary act on an unconditional surrender. The main contribution, however, was done by Soviet people and not by the Allies, therefore the capitulation must be signed in front of the Supreme Command of all countries of the anti-Hitlercoalition, and not only in front of the Supreme Command of Allied Forces. Moreover, I disagree that the surrender was not signed in Berlin, which was the center of Nazi aggression. We agreed with the Allies to consider the Reims protocol as preliminary.”

Therefore, another ceremony was organized in a surviving manor in the outskirts of Berlin late on 8 May, when it was already 9 May in Moscow due to the difference in time zones. Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel submitted the capitulation of the Wehrmacht to Marshal Georgy Zhukov in the Soviet Army headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial Moscow Victory Parade was held in the Soviet capital on 24 June 1945 (four years and two days after the beginning of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union).

Countries in which 9 May is celebrated:

   

Armenia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Azerbaijan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946; Belarus has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considered it non-labor in the past; Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism and con siders it a non-working day.  British Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey were not liberated from German occupation until 9 May 1945, and Sark on 10 May 1945, and celebrate those dates as their Liberation Days.  Georgia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  German Democratic Republic recognised Tag des Sieges (Victory Day) on 9 May as a public holiday between 1975 and the end of the republic in 1990. Earlier, the Tag der Befreiung(Day of liberation) was celebrated on 8 May as a public holiday, from 1950 to 1966, and on the 40th anniversary in 1985.  Germany does not officially recognise 9 May as a holiday. However, celebrations continue to take place in some areas of the former German Democratic Republic. Also, on 8 May, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2002 has recognised a commemorative dayTag der Befreiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Social ism, and the End of the Second World War).  Israel has officially recognised 9 May since 2000.  Kazakhstan has officially recognised 9 May since 1947. It's a non-working day. The holiday is some times celebrated in connection with other national holidays on 10 and 11 May.  Kyrgyzstan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Moldova has officially recognised 9 May since 1951;  Russia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working);  Serbia celebrates 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism but it's a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army, Minister of Defense and the President.  Tajikistan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Turkmenistan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Ukraine has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working);  Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 1946 until 1988. Starting 1999, the holiday was re stored as "Memorial/Remembrance Day;.  Yugoslavia officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism as an all-state non-working holiday.

Russophone populations in many world countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status. Many Russian communities in United States and Canada, also for example in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania organize public gatherings and even parades on this day. In Europe, some multi language broadcasting television chains translate the "Victory speech" of the Russian president and the parade on Red Square.

London Victory Day London is a ceremonial event held annually since 2007 in London on 9 May in commemoration of the

Arctic Convoys 1941-1945 and the victory in the Second World War. It is part of the wider commemoration of 9 May Victory Day, marking the German surrender to theSoviet Union. A ceremony is held aboard the cruiser HMS Belfast, moored on the Thames. The event serves as a reunion day for British and Russian veterans of the Arctic Convoys with members of the British Royal Family present. Other participants include the Russian Ambassador, ambassadors of other FSU countries, and other British and Russian dignitaries.