Moldova Independence Day

Independence Day is a public holiday in Moldova.

Independence Day, which can also be referred to as the birthday of a nation, is an annual celebration on which, a nation celebrates its anniversary of independence from a foreign rule and assumption of sovereign statehood. The Independence Day is honored in most of the countries as a national holiday. Moldova celebrates its Independence Day on August 27th to commemorate its independence from the Soviet Union.

History of Moldova Independence Day

Moldova, an East European country, land-locked between Romania in the west and Ukraine in east, south and north is officially known as The Republic of Moldova. It had been a part of the Principality of Moldavia since the Middle Ages. In 1538, although the principality became a tributary of the Ottoman Empire it retained its internal and partial external autonomy. In 1812, the Russian Empire, through the treaty of Bucharest, annexed it. The Russians named the territory Bessarabia. Though the territory was returned to Moldavia in 1856, it was returned to the Russian Empire in 1878. When the Russian Empire was dissolved in 1917, an independent Moldavian Republic was formed. However Bessarabia was under Romanian jurisdiction from 1918 to 1940. In August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed that recognized Bessarabia as a Soviet sphere of influence. In June 1940, Romania received an ultimatum from the Soviet Union, with an implied threat of invasion. Under pressure from both Soviet Union and Germany, the military was evacuated from this region and became occupied by the Soviet Union. Under Soviet Rule, the local inhabitants were subjected to political persecutions, such as arrests, deportations or executions. Severe drought and famines were witnessed during the period of Soviet rule. In the time between 1944 and 1953, there were several anti-communist armed resistance groups. However, the Soviet government had most of them arrested, executed or deported. The Soviet government aggressively promoted the ethnic Moldavian identity as different from the Romanian identity. It even changed the script of the Moldovan language from Latin to Cyrillic. In 1985, new political conditions were created in the Soviet Union due to the glasnost policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev. To support perestroika, in 1986, a Democratic Movement of Moldova was formed, which in 1989 became the Popular Front of Moldova. From 1988 onwards, Moldova, along with several other Soviet Republics began to move towards its independence. On August 27, 1987. A mass demonstration called the Great National Assembly was organized. They pressurized the Soviet Republic authorities to adopt a language law that would proclaim Moldovan written in Latin — as the state language. The first independent general elections to elect an independent parliament were held in 1990. In June 1990, the parliament adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Soviet Socialist Republic Moldova. Finally, on August 27, 1990, Moldova declared its independence.

Moldova Independance Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

On this day, the President makes public speeches and inaugurates new constructions sites. Flowers are laid at the Monument of Stefan cel Mare and a concert is organized at the National Square. The people of Moldova participate in sports events, concerts exhibitions and outdoor events. On this day, every Moldovan celebrates being an independent citizen of a free, independent and peaceful country. Source: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/moldova-independence-day/