Independence Day (Albania)

Independence Day
Official name	Independence Day
Also called	Independence Day
Observed by	Albania
Type	National
Significance	The day in 1912 that the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Vlora
Date	28 November
Next time	28 November 2025 (2025-11-28)
Frequency	annual

Independence Day (Albanian: Dita e Pavarësisë) is a public holiday in Albania observed on 28 November. It commemorates the Albanian Declaration of Independence (from the Ottoman Empire), which was ratified by the All-Albanian Congress on 28 November 1912, establishing the state of Albania.

Significance

Independence Day is celebrated every 28 November as a holiday in Albania, and by the Albanian diaspora. It refers to the Albanian Declaration of Independence on 28 November 1912 and the raising of the Albanian flag in Vlora by Ismail Qemali.^[1][2] It coincides with the day in which Skanderbeg raised the same flag in Krujë, on 28 November 1443.^[3]

History

The Albanian struggle for independence dates back to the 15th century, when Ottomans first took control of Albanian land.^[4] Most historians argue that the actual struggle for independence came with the development of Albanian nationalism in the 19th century. This spark emerged particularly among their diaspora in Southern Italy, the descendants of Albanians who fled after the death of Skandberg in the 15th century.^[5][6][4]

See also

• 100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania
• 2017 Independence Cup (Albania)

References

1. "Independence Day Of Albania from Rumela's Web". Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
2. "108 Years Since Ismail Qemali Declared Albania Independent". ALBANIA DAILY NEWS. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
3. Drizari, Nelo (1968), Scanderbeg; his life, correspondence, orations, victories, and philosophy, National Press, p. 1, OCLC 729093
4. Fischer, Bernd (2014-09-01). "Albanian Nationalism and Albanian Independence". SEEU Review. 10 (1): 25–38. doi:10.2478/seeur-2014-0005. ISSN 1857-8462.
5. Hutchins, Raymond (20 December 2003). Historical dictionary of Albania. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. pp. 371–372. ISBN 978-0810848726. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
6. Noli, Fan Stylian (1945). "1". George Castrioti Scanderbeg (1405-1468) (Ph.D. thesis). Boston University Press. OCLC 1045564276. Retrieved 7 July 2014.