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Tuvalu Independence Day Tuvalu Independence DayOctober 1Independence Day is the only national celebration in Tuvalu. The nation of Tuvalu consists of nine islands in the South Pacific with a total surface area of 10 square miles. Settled by Polynesian people some 3,000 years ago, Tuvalu came to the attention of the larger world in the 19th century when the British colonized the islands. Called the Elice Islands by the British, they played a crucial role during World War II as a key airbase in the fight against Japan. Achieving independence in 1978, the islands renamed themselves Tuvalu, which means "eight islands," a reference to the eight out of nine islands which have been inhabited for centuries.
Independence Day is marked in the capital city of Funafuti with an official government flag raising ceremony followed by a parade of policemen and schoolchildren. Similar events are held in smaller communities throughout the country. In addition to several days of feasting and dance, the Independence Day Sports Festival is held, in which citizens enjoy a number of sporting competitions.
CONTACTS:
Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN
800 2nd Ave, Ste. 400-D
New York, NY 10017
212-490-0534; fax: 212-808-4975
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