Falklands Day in United Kingdom 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Falklands Day is observed annually on August 14 to commemorate the discovery of the Falkland Islands in 1592. John Davis was the first person to see the islands during his voyage, and ever since then, the holiday has been observed as a sort of heritage day by the locals. The Falkland Islands are located off the coast of South America, but they have been under British control for many years. Even during the 20th century, it has had a turbulent past. In 2002, Falklands Day was taken off the calendar and substituted with Peat Cutting Day. This event occurs on the first Monday of October.

The background of Falklands Day

Falklands Day was formerly the national day of the Falkland Islands, but it was eliminated as a holiday in 2002. Now, Liberation Day has assumed its place, as the day commemorating the end of the Falklands War felt more significant than the day the island was discovered in the 1500s. When Falklands Day was still extensively observed and a legal holiday, it was observed similarly to other national days. Families and friends spent the day off with one another, communities held small events to commemorate the occasion or simply as a way to unify the people, and some paid homage to the past by visiting local attractions and monuments.

Falklands Day has been replaced by Liberation Day. These festivities have not changed drastically, but have become more solemn as the new national day commemorates the end of the island’s conflict. The Falklands War was an undeclared ten-week conflict that occurred in 1982. It pitted the United Kingdom and Argentina against each other in a dispute over the islands’ territory. Argentina initiated hostilities by invading, prompting Britain to dispatch its own military force to defend the predominately British-settled colony on the territory. Eventually, the conflict concluded with Britain retaining control of the island.

Since then, the sovereignty of Falkland Island has been a source of contention between the two administrations. Currently, both the British and Argentine Constitutions recognise the Falkland Islands. They function as an autonomous British Overseas Territory. Moreover, the islands’ residents have expressed a strong desire to remain a British territory.

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DAY OF FALKLANDS ACTIVITIES

Visit the museum.

Visiting a museum is the best method to commemorate the past. The Historic Dockyard Museum is the location to explore the island’s past and gain new knowledge.

Show reverence

Across the islands, a number of memorials honour the military and civilians who perished during the brief conflict. Taking a moment to remember the deceased is a fitting way to observe Falklands Day, whether you are a resident or a tourist.

Admire the sites

Utilise the day to experience local attractions such as the numerous shipwrecks off the island’s coast or to visit local landmarks.

5 surprising facts about the Faroe Islands.

The Falkland Islands are 300 miles from the Patagonian coast and 8,050 miles from their governing nation, the United Kingdom.

There are millions of penguins and other species that are native to the region on the islands.

Four-fifths of the island’s populace resides in Stanley, the capital city.

Outside of Stanley, the majority of the population lives in tiny, isolated sheep-farming communities that provide the island’s primary export, sheep’s wool.

The Falkland Islands have a low unemployment rate, but a housing shortage discourages immigration.

FALKLANDS DAY DATES