Abolition Day is a public holiday in Saint Martin, observed on May 28 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when slavery was abolished on this day in 1847.
Saint Martin is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and the northern French part is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic. Indigenous people inhabited the island for centuries before Christopher Columbus arrived on his second voyage in 1493. The Spanish captured the island in 1633 but abandoned it in 1648 due to the lack of economic and strategic value.
The Dutch and the French partitioned the island in 1648 and established settlements after the Spanish left. The border was changed many times until 1815 when the French took 61% of the island while the Dutch took 39%.
The French and Dutch developed new cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations and imported many African slaves. The harsh working conditions staged rebellions, and in 1848, the French government abolished slavery in their colonies, including the French side of the island.
The following is the list of Abolition Day in Saint Martin from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Abolition Day | May 28, 2022 | Saturday |
| Abolition Day | May 28, 2023 | Sunday |
| Abolition Day | May 28, 2024 | Tuesday |
| Abolition Day | May 28, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Abolition Day | May 28, 2026 | Thursday |
Please check more public holidays inSaint Martin:
