In 1499, Spanish explorers arrived in Colombia. In 1510, they founded their first permanent settlement. During the reign of King Charles III (1759–1788), colonial resentment grew as the Spanish demanded that the colonies only trade with Spain, limiting their ability to develop.
Independence Day in Colombia is observed on July 20. The date is not moved to a weekday when it occurs on a weekend. The ‘Junta de Santa Fe’ was founded in the viceroyalty’s capital, Santa Fe de Bogota, to govern the region independently from the Spanish colonial era. The event inspired independence movements throughout Latin America, resulting in a decade-long rebellion that culminated in the establishment of the Republic of Gran Colombia, which included the present-day countries of Colombia, mainland Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, and portions of northern Peru and northwestern Brazil. Gran Colombia fell apart in 1831, but it was one of the most potent nations in the Western Hemisphere. It had an impact on the political growth of new Latin American nations.
In 1499, Spanish explorers arrived in Colombia. In 1510, they founded their first permanent settlement. During the reign of King Charles III (1759–1788), colonial resentment grew as the Spanish demanded that the colonies only trade with Spain, limiting their ability to develop. Due to their support of the United States during the American War of Independence, which sparked a succession of ineffective revolts, Spanish taxation increased.
After the Napoleonic Wars, Criollos (natives born of Spanish descent) who desired independence seized the opportunity. In the months preceding July 20, there were disturbances and declarations of juntas (military governments), and similar events occurred in Bogota. The Criollos devised a strategy to guarantee that the rebellion would commence. They intended to anger a prominent local merchant, José González Llorente, in order to agitate the community. On the morning of July 20, they visited him with the expectation that he would deny their request to borrow a flowerpot for a fellow Criollo. It is unclear how he declined if the flowerpot was broken and who was liable for the damage. The visit was successful and sparked rioting in Bogota; the People’s Junta was formed that afternoon. Llorente’s home in Bogota, the site of the flowerpot incident, is now the “July 20 Museum” and a popular destination on July 20.
Bandeja Paisa, a popular national cuisine consisting of ground meat, white rice, red beans, fried egg, plantains, pork, and avocado, is consumed on this day. This meal is served on a platter due to its girth. People gather to play Tejo, a game in which they throw metal discs at pyrotechnic targets while listening to traditional folk music. People believe that Tejo originated with indigenous communities in central Colombia.
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Colombia is the second most biodiverse nation in the globe and one of only 17 megadiverse nations.
It has the greatest species diversity on the planet, including more bird species than Europe and North America combined.
The official name of Colombia is the Republic of Colombia, which is derived from Christopher Columbus’ surname.
Colombia is the only country in South America with Pacific and Caribbean coastlines.
Radio and public television in Colombia play the national anthem daily at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 20 | Thursday |
| 2024 | July 20 | Saturday |
| 2025 | July 20 | Sunday |
| 2026 | July 20 | Monday |
| 2027 | July 20 | Tuesday |
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