Emancipation Day is a public holiday in Guyana, and it is observed on August 1 each year. The holiday commemorates the date when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into force, and slavery was abolished in Guyana in August 1834.
Guyana is a country on the northern mainland of South America. In the late 16th century, the Dutch first established colonies in modern-day Guyana. In 1814, the territory was formally ceded to the United Kingdom, which was known as British Guiana. The Europeans focused on plantation agriculture using enslaved Africans, and the enslaved Africans quickly became an essential element of the colonial economy. The slaves' working conditions were brutal, and that resulted in slave revolts and rebellions.
Slavery Abolition Act 1833 received the Royal Assent in the British Empire and took effect in 1834. As one of the British colonies, slavery was abolished in Guyana on August 1, 1834. However, only children under six years of age were deemed to be free, all other slaves were required to serve an apprenticeship period without pay as compensation to their owners. On August 1, 1838, the apprenticeship system finally ended and full emancipation was given to the slaves.
The following is the list of Emancipation Day in Guyana from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Emancipation Day | Aug 01, 2022 | Monday |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 01, 2023 | Tuesday |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 01, 2024 | Thursday |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 01, 2025 | Friday |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 01, 2026 | Saturday |
Please check more public holidays in Guyana: