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Home > Tonga Emancipation Day holiday observed Monday

Tonga Emancipation Day holiday observed Monday [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday, June 5, 2020 - 18:09

King Tupou I

A public holiday will be observed on Monday, June 8 to commemorate Emancipation Day, the day Tonga’s first Christian King, Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga in 1862.

The June 4 public holiday this year fell on Thursday, so it is moved up to be observed on Monday, June 8. This is in accordance to a Public Holiday Act, stating when these holidays fall on a Thursday, Friday it will be celebrated the following Monday.

Emancipation Day represents a turning point in Tongan history as commoners were freed from the virtual ownership of chiefs. It is 158-years since that day.

King Tupou I declared the abolition of serfdom as part of his 1862 Code of Laws, with his official emancipation edict in the 1862 Code of Laws:

“All chiefs and people are to all intents and purposes set at liberty from serfdom, and all vassalage, from the institution of this law; and it shall not be lawful for any chief or person, to seize, or take by force, or beg authoritatively, in Tonga fashion, anything from anyone.” 

King Tupou I is credited with bringing Christianity to Tonga as well as establishing Tonga’s first constitution and parliament.

Tonga [2]
Emancipation Day [3]
King Siaosi Tupou I [4]
public holiday [5]
Government [6]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2020/06/05/tonga-emancipation-day-holiday-observed-monday

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2020/06/05/tonga-emancipation-day-holiday-observed-monday [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/emancipation-day?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/king-siaosi-tupou-i?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/public-holiday?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/topic/government?page=1