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Home > Emancipation public holiday observed on 8 June

Emancipation public holiday observed on 8 June [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - 23:30.  Updated on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - 23:30.

King Tupou I

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

The June 4 public holiday this year falls on Thursday, so it is moved to be observed on Monday, 8 June in accordance with section 2 of the Public Holidays Act.

Emancipation Day represents a turning point in Tongan 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 public holiday [4]
Tonga public holidays 2026 [5]
King Siaosi Tupou I [6]
Government [7]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2026/06/03/emancipation-public-holiday-observed-8-june

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2026/06/03/emancipation-public-holiday-observed-8-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-public-holiday?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-public-holidays-2026?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/king-siaosi-tupou-i?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/topic/government?page=1