The Falkland Islands celebrate The Falkland Islands Liberation Day annually on June 14. This holiday honours the 1982 liberation of the Falkland Islands from Argentine military occupation. Islanders attend a thanksgiving service at Christ Church Cathedral, lay wreaths at the Liberation Memorial, and witness a military parade in Stanley on this day.
The background of Falkland Islands Liberation Day
Prior to European exploration, the Falkland Islands were uninhabited, although Fuegians and Patagonians may have visited in prehistoric times. The first confirmed landing occurred in 1690, when English captain John Strong disembarked and began exploring the islands, regardless of who first dropped anchor on the islands. Decades later, in 1764, French commander Louis Antoine de Bougainville established the first settlement, Port Louis. In 1766, however, France surrendered its claim to the Spanish. John MacBride, a British commander, established Port Egmont on Saunders Island the same year. The British voluntarily withdrew from the islands in 1774, leaving Spain as the sole governmental presence on the islands. They did, however, leave a plaque claiming the islands for King George III.
A few decades later, in 1820, Colonel David Jewett raised Buenos Aires’ 1816 claim to Spain’s South Atlantic territories. Although Buenos Aires attempted to assert control over the islands in 1833, British forces arrived to reassert their authority. The Argentine Confederation, led by the governor of Buenos Aires, protested Britain’s actions, but the British did not pay much attention. More than a century later, in the 1960s, the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain escalated, prompting the United Nations (U.N.) to adopt a resolution on decolonization and urge both countries to resolve the conflict amicably.
The Falkland Islands War began on April 2, 1982, when Argentine military forces invaded the islands. Two months later, on June 14, 1982, an Argentine surrender and a British victory ended the Argentine military occupancy of the Falkland Islands.
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FALKLAND ISLANDS LIBERATION DAY ACTIVITIES
Discover the Falkland Islands
There are numerous fascinating facts to discover about the Falkland Islands. Explore the Internet for as much information as possible.
Travel to the Falklands
The islands are home to some of the world’s most famous tourism destinations. Plan a journey to the islands and observe them firsthand.
Utilise the hashtag
To increase awareness of Falkland Islands Liberation Day. Utilise the hashtag #liberationday on all of your preferred social media platforms.
5 OUTRAGEOUS FACTS ABOUT THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
The Falkland Islands consist of 740 islands covering a total area of approximately 4,700 square miles.
The Falkland Islands contain only one bank and no ATMs.
Approximately ninety percent of the population of the Falkland Islands is either British or of British descent.
On the Falkland Islands, phone numbers are limited to five digits.
On the islands, only seven restaurants exist.
FALKLAND ISLANDS LIBERATION DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | June 14 | Wednesday |
2024 | June 14 | Friday |
2025 | June 14 | Saturday |
2026 | June 14 | Sunday |
2027 | June 14 | Monday |