Albanian Independence Day: What You Need To Know

Just like most other countries in the world, Albania too has its very own national day that it cherishes and celebrates in November each year. This special occasion is marked by the red-and-black flag displayed everywhere, along with fireworks, parades, and cultural events that bring people together.

Want to know more? Keep reading to learn about one of the most important days of the year for Albanians.

When Is The Albanian Independence Day?

The Albanian Independence Day is celebrated on November 28. This is a century-old tradition for the Albanians that’s commemorated each year following the country’s liberation from the Ottomans in November 1912 on the same day.

The Independence Day of Albania aligns with two other historic occasions for this Balkan nation—Flag Day and Skanderbeg’s Day.

How FLag Day and Skanderbeg’s Day Make Things even more special

Expect a massive switch-up of the way things normally are in Albania on November 28 because that’s not just Independence Day but an opportunity to enjoy other events as well. One of these is Flag Day, where Albanians proudly display their red-and-black flags everywhere—on city squares, houses, vehicles, and anywhere else they can. It’s a deeply symbolic and heartfelt celebration.

The flag featuring a black-coloured, double-headed eagle representing the country is more than a mere logo; it’s a symbol of endurance, resistance, and triumph over hardships. Correlating with Flag Day is Skanderbeg’s Day, which is named after the Albanian legend Gjergj Kastrioti, “Skanderbeg,” recognized in the country for fending off the Ottomans and charging hard with a resistance movement that would go on to win the Albanians their due independence.

The Albanian Independence Day Celebrations

Here’s a general look at how Albanian parades can be, as recorded last year by a user in New York City.

The Albanian Independence Day Parade is often joined by dances hailing from Albania’s folklore. This is yet another way for the Balkan nation to make the most out of the occasion while making sure the entertainment does not stop at all on November 28.

A Brief History of Albania and Why It Matters

To understand why the Albanian Independence Day is so important to Albanians, you have to be wary of the events leading up to it. Simply put, Albania’s road to freedom was sought with unmitigated challenges, and things did not start to improve until centuries later. You can assume that during all this time, Albania and its people had to suffer, compromise on multiple levels, and hand out sacrifices we can’t really fully comprehend these days.

Remember the Skanderbeg Day I talked about earlier? That was in the 15th century, meaning that the Albanians still had about 400 years more or less to go before they could finally claim their country as their own. One could imagine the type of time Albanian ancestors had to go through so the forthcoming generations would turn out to be liberated from the Ottomans.

A strict feudal system, cultural suppression, discrimination in administrative and educational capacities, lacklustre autonomy, and religion-related pressure are some of the most significant challenges that the Albanians braved during Ottoman rule. Considering all this, Albania’s independence day takes on a very significant meaning.

And if you happen to visit the country somewhere around this time, you’ll witness the atmosphere changing in all cities across the board as the nation pours its heart out on November 28.

Major Changes in Albania following its independence

The Albanian Independence Day is also a moment for self-reflection, given how the nation has evolved significantly over the past century after standing on its feet as an unconstrained country. However, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into reconstructing Albania following its transition to sovereign rule from the Ottoman Empire’s iron grip. Here’s a brief look into some of the massive changes that Albania underwent from 1912 up until the 21st century.

Albania is a secular nation with no ties to a fixed religion. Although Muslims comprise the major percentage of people in the country, things today are not the way they once were on this front. The establishment of the Kingdom of Albania in the late 1920s by Ahmet Zogu would go on to change the religious viewpoint of the country for the time to come.

Similarly, Albania now enjoys a centralized government system, which traces its roots back to the reign of Ahmet Zogu and Enver Hoxha.

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