Emancipation Day in Tonga is a deeply meaningful public holiday. It commemorates a monumental reform enacted in 1862 by King George Tupou I, who abolished serfdom and granted freedom and land rights to all commoners. It is one of the most historically significant dates in Tonga's journey toward becoming a sovereign, modern nation.

When is Emancipation Day?

Emancipation Day is celebrated on June 4 each year. When it falls on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it will be celebrated on the next following Monday; and it will be celebrated on the Monday before the holiday if it falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

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

The History of Emancipation Day?

Prior to 1862, Tonga operated under a traditional chiefly system. Commoners (the majority of the population) were bound to chiefs through feudal obligations, performing unpaid labor and having little to no personal freedoms. Land was controlled by nobles and chiefs; common people could not own it or pass it to their children.

On June 4, 1862, King George Tupou I issued a royal Emancipation Edict as part of his broader legal and social reforms: abolished serfdom and redistributed land rights.

The Emancipation Act was followed by the 1865 Land Act and the 1875 Constitution, establishing Tonga as a constitutional monarchy. It helped secure Tonga's national identity and internal sovereignty.

June 4 is celebrated as Emancipation Day, and also recognized as Tonga's Independence Day, as it coincides with the date when Tonga became fully independent from British protection in 1970.