Emancipation Day in Bermuda ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Emancipation Day in Bermuda and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Emancipation Day is a public holiday in Bermuda which commemorates the abolition of slavery on the island. It is held on the first Monday in August and was first celebrated in 1834, the year after slavery was abolished. The day is marked with church services, parades and speeches.
Bermuda was one of the last places in the world to abolish slavery, not doing so until August 1, 1834. This was largely due to the fact that the island’s economy was heavily reliant on slave labor, particularly in the agricultural and maritime sectors.
Emancipation Day was first celebrated in 1835, just a year after slavery was abolished. It has been held annually ever since and is now a public holiday on the island.
The day is typically marked with church services, parades and speeches. It is an opportunity to reflect on the island’s history and to celebrate the progress that has been made since emancipation.