Liberation Day (Channel Islands)
Liberation Day | |
---|---|
9 May | |
Next time | 9 May 2024 |
Frequency | annual |
Related to | German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II |
Liberation Day (Jèrriais: Jour d'la Libéthâtion; Guernésiais: Lé Jour dé la Libératiaon[1]) is the national day of both Guernsey and Jersey,[2][3] the two largest of the Channel Islands, which takes place on 9 May each year. It commemorates the liberation of the Channel Islands on 9 May 1945, which marked the end of the islands' occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. It falls on the same day as the European Union's Europe Day, which celebrates post-World War II peace and European unity. 9 May is a public holiday in both islands and each has different celebrations and commemorative events; the centrepiece of Jersey's is the Liberation Day re-enactment in the Liberation Square, while Guernsey's is an islandwide cavalcade of classic vehicles.[4]
History
On 9 May 1945,
The same day,
Sark was liberated on 10 May 1945, and the German troops in Alderney surrendered on 16 May 1945.[8]
Official status
The Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Act 1952 established Liberation Day as a public holiday if it fell on a weekday.[9] The Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Act 2010 further laid down that Liberation was also to be a public holiday if it falls on a Saturday.[10] It is not a public holiday, and no day off in lieu is provided, if it falls on a Sunday.[11]
Liberation Day is also a public holiday in Guernsey, according to the Public Holidays Ordinance 1994. Unlike Jersey's, Guernsey employment law provides no statutory entitlement to public holidays.[12]
Ceremonies
Since the 50th anniversary of Liberation in 1995, a pattern of official ceremonies has developed based in and around Liberation Square in
The afternoon community celebrations are of an informal character, including a programme of entertainments and stalls in Saint Helier.[13]
An official ceremony also takes place at the Crematorium where there is a memorial to victims and slave workers of various nationalities. Representatives of affected nationalities take part in the commemoration.[14]
In 1995, artist Eric Snell
The celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation could not be held in 2020 or 2021 due to the
See also
References
- ^ "Our words, our heritage". guernseypress.com. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "Plans to celebrate Liberation 75". gov.je. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ Heath, Ian (11 May 2020). "'I am hopeful that much of this work will not have been wasted'". www.jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Liberation Day Cavalcade". Liberation Day. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "Sarnia Chérie (Guernsey anthem) – Sung on Liberation Day in 1945". YouTube.
- ^ "Jersey youth vital to Liberation Day – Bailiff". BBC News. 9 May 2011.
- ^ "Jersey celebrates Liberation Day anniversary". BBC News. 9 May 2011.
- ^ "In Pictures: Sark's Liberation Day". ITV News. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Law 1951". Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Act 2010". Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "States of Jersey Official Report". Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ Legal Resources, States of Guernsey (1994), Public Holidays Ordinance, 1994, retrieved 2 May 2023
- ^ "Jersey islanders mark Liberation Day". BBC News. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Never forget the price of freedom". Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Eric Snell".
- ^ "Guernsey's Liberation Monument – A Fusion of Art and Science". 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Earl and Countess of Wessex visit Channel Islands for Liberation Day". ITV News. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
External links
- Media related to Liberation Day in Jersey at Wikimedia Commons