Observing Republic Day

Vaհe H Apelian

Happenstance has the Armenian Americans have more of a reason to be particularly receptive to the last week of the month of May because they will be observing the Memorial Day on the last Monday of the month and the Armenian Republic Day on May 28, three days before the end of the month. It has happened that both holidays have been observed on the same day.  This year the Memorial Day will be observed on Monday May 26, 2025. The Armenian Republic Day will be observed two days later, on Wednesday May 28, 2025.

 Non-working Holidays enable the citizens to observe important events in the life of the nation. The U.S. Federal government recognizes 11 non-working holidays. Armenia observes 12 non-working holidays. We all know that during the non-working holidays, the government and most businesses are closed, and employees are typically not required to work. The government of Armenia has designated May 28 as Republic Day – Hanrabedoutyan or – Հանրապետութեան օր։

Soviet Armenia did not celebrate May 28, but a good segment of the Diaspora, mostly affiliated with the ARF and the Cilician Catholicosate, celebrated May 28 as Independence Day.  After Armenia regained its independence, the postal service of the Republic of Armenia issued in 1992 its first stamps celebrating May 28, designating the stamp’s first day cover as Independence Day.

First Day Cover, May 28, Independence Day

But the Armenian reality had to contend with another historic day. On September 21, 1991, a referendum was held in the Armenian SSR to determine whether to secede from the Soviet Union. The overwhelming majority, 99.5%, voted in favor of independence, with a 95% turnout. This referendum followed a declaration of independence on August 23, 1990, and provided the legal basis for the Armenian SSR to declare its independence from the Soviet Union. The formal declaration of independence was made on September 23, 1991, officially establishing the Republic of Armenia. Hence the Armenian government designated September 21 as Independence Day, and May 28 as the Republic Day.

I will refrain from engaging in any debate on the designation of May 28 for the Armenians. But I will unequivocally state during the years we celebrated May 28 as Independence Day, we celebrated the day for having attained independence on that day for founding the first ever Republic of Armenia. It was in fact a celebration for the founding of the free, independent, democratic Republic of Armenia. I invite the readers to check the front cover of the May 28 special, larger than normal edition of Aztag Daily in Lebanon, posted below. The front cover heralded the 60^th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia – Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան  վաթսուն Ամեակ։  

60th Anniversary of the Republic of Armenia

Two days after observing the Memorial Day on May 26 and paying homage by remembering and honoring those who were killed on duty, we will celebrate the 107th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia. I join Armenia’s ambassador in Washington DC and all those who on May 28, celebrate the Republic of Armenia and with them I wish the Republic of Armenia a long, peaceful, prosperous existence now and forever.