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Home > Emancipation Day public holiday on 3 June

Emancipation Day public holiday on 3 June [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday, May 31, 2024 - 21:29

King Tupou I

A public holiday will be observed on Monday, 3 June to commemorate Emancipation Day, the day King Siaosi Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga in 1862, as part of his 1862 Code of Laws.

The June 4 public holiday this year falls on Tuesday, so it is moved up to be celebrated on Monday in accordance with the Public Holidays Act.

Emancipation Day, 'Aho Tau'ataina represents a turning point in Tonga's history as commoners were freed from the virtual ownership of chiefs.

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.

Pacific Islands [2]
Tonga [3]
Emancipation Day [4]
King Siaosi Tupou I [5]
Government [6]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2024/05/31/emancipation-day-public-holiday-3-june

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2024/05/31/emancipation-day-public-holiday-3-june [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/pacific-islands?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/emancipation-day?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/king-siaosi-tupou-i?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/topic/government?page=1