National Thanksgiving Day (Croatia)
National Thanksgiving Day in Croatia is observed annually on August 5th and serves as a public holiday to honor the historic struggle for freedom experienced by the Croatian people. This day is especially significant as it reflects on the hard-won independence that Croatia achieved in the late 20th century, following a tumultuous period of foreign rule and internal conflict. Geographically located in the Balkans, Croatia has a complex history, having been governed by various empires, including the Austrian Empire and later Austria-Hungary, before becoming part of Yugoslavia after World War I. The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1980s led to Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, which was met with resistance and civil war, significantly shaping its national identity. As the population of Croatia is predominantly of Croatian ancestry, the day is a unifying moment for the people, reflecting on their shared heritage and resilience. National Thanksgiving Day not only celebrates independence but also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by many in pursuit of freedom and the ongoing journey of nation-building. This observance provides an opportunity for reflection and gratitude among Croatians, both in the country and among the diaspora around the world.
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National Thanksgiving Day (Croatia)
National Thanksgiving Day (Croatia)
August 5 of every year is National Thanksgiving Day in the Balkan country of Croatia. Croatia has a population of just over 4 million, nearly 1 million of whom live in the capital of Zagreb, and some four-fifths of whom are of Croatian ancestry. National Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday honoring the historic struggle for freedom by the Croatian people which was only recently won in the late 20th century.
Located in the Balkans, in central to southeastern Europe, what is now present-day Croatia was ruled for centuries by much stronger outside states. The Austrian Empire, later the Empire of Austria-Hungary, seized the region from the Ottoman Turks around 1700 and ruled Croatia until after World War I, when Austria-Hungary was dismantled by the victorious Allies. Croatia became part of the new nation of Yugoslavia, an umbrella state for a variety of small Balkan countries created by the Allies on the theory that one large nation could preserve ethnic freedoms more effectively than several small ones. Yugoslavia collapsed during the 1980s, and Croatia declared national independence in 1991, but it took many years of civil war to secure that independence, due to internal ethnic tensions and interference by neighboring Serbia.