Myanmar’s national holiday on 4 January, commemorating independence from Britain in 1948, is called Independence Day.
Burma, now officially called Myanmar, became independent from the United Kingdom on 4 January 1948. The transfer followed negotiations involving Burmese leaders and Britain after the Second World War. The country had been incorporated into British India in the nineteenth century and later administered separately.
Independence Day ceremonies commonly include official speeches, flag-raising events, cultural programs, and public gatherings. Yangon and Naypyidaw have hosted prominent national observances in different periods.
The holiday should not be confused with Union Day on 12 February, which recalls the 1947 Panglong Agreement and the cooperation of several ethnic groups in the movement toward independence.