Abolition Day in Saint Martin commemorates the 1848 abolition of slavery in the French Caribbean, honoring the struggles and resilience of enslaved people and celebrating freedom, heritage, and human dignity.

When is Labour Day?

Abolition Day in Saint Martin is celebrated every year on May 28.

The following is the list of Abolition Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Abolition Day?

From the 17th century onward, Saint Martin was part of the French colonial Caribbean plantation system, relying heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans. Enslaved people worked mainly on sugar, coffee, and cotton plantations, under harsh and inhumane conditions.

Resistance was constant, and enslaved men and women resisted through revolts, escapes and the preservation of African cultural traditions.

The first French abolition of slavery was declared during the French Revolution in 1794, but it was later reinstated by Napoleon in 1802, returning thousands of people to bondage.

Throughout the early 19th century, pressure grew from abolitionist movements in Europe and resistance in the colonies themselves. In 1848, uprisings and growing pressure across the Caribbean made slavery increasingly untenable.

On April 27, 1848, the French Second Republic issued a decree permanently abolishing slavery in all French colonies. The decree took effect in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, Réunion, and the French part of Saint Martin.

In Saint Martin, the news was enacted on May 28, 1848, when enslaved men, women, and children were formally freed.

To honor this historic event, May 28 is commemorated as Abolition Day in Saint Martin. It is a day to remember the suffering endured under slavery, while also celebrating the triumph of freedom and the resilience of Afro-Caribbean culture.