Republic Day in the Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia had come under the control of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. On August 2nd 1903, an uprising against the Ottomans was led by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization.

Republic Day or the Day of the Republic or Ilinden is a major national holiday of North Macedonia. It is celebrated on 2 August, which is also a major religious holiday. It commemorates two major events in the establishment of the statehood of the country which took place on this date:

The Ilinden Uprising of 1903 which was organized by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization against the Ottoman Empire, and during which a short-lived Kruševo Republic was proclaimed, and

The First Assembly of the Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia of 1944, during World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia, which laid the foundation of the SR Macedonia.

Macedonians have traditionally celebrated this day, also called Ilinden, because of its religious significance which has its roots in the Christian St. Elijah, and also in the earlier pagan traditions. It has been proclaimed a national holiday since 1944.