Independence Day in Bolivia
Bolivia marks Independence Day on August 6, the date its representatives proclaimed the independence of Upper Peru in 1825. It is a national public holiday, and official commemorations have included ceremonies in La Paz and Sucre.[1][2][3]
A national public holiday
Bolivia’s Decree No. 2750 lists August 6 as the country’s Independence Day and provides for suspension of public and private activities on national holidays. The decree also provides for a Monday transfer when a national holiday falls on Sunday, except for certain named holidays; Independence Day is not among those exceptions.[1] The Ministry of Labour has likewise described August 6 as an established national holiday with suspended activities in the public and private sectors.[5]
Independence Day is transferred to Monday when August 6 falls on a Sunday.[1]
The 1825 declaration
The independence act was proclaimed in the building now known as Casa de la Libertad, in Sucre, on August 6, 1825. The assembly of deputies from Upper Peru chose independence and the founding of a separate republic; the museum’s history records that the new republic was first named República Bolívar. The act itself declared the provinces sovereign and independent and expressed their intention to govern themselves.[2][4]
The date commemorates the formation of an independent Bolivian state after Spanish colonial rule. The country’s name honors Simón Bolívar, while Marshal Antonio José de Sucre later took office as its first president, according to Casa de la Libertad’s historical account.[2][3]
How official commemorations look
Official ceremonies have featured military honors, floral tributes, the national anthem and the raising of Bolivia’s tricolor flag and Wiphala. One documented ceremony in La Paz included national and local officials, representatives of state institutions, social organizations and invited guests.[3]
Sucre has also hosted ceremonies at Plaza 25 de Mayo and Casa de la Libertad. A documented observance there included an offering to Pachamama led by Andean spiritual leaders, followed by planned floral tributes, flag-raising, the national anthem and a formal session at Casa de la Libertad. These reports describe particular official events, rather than a uniform custom followed by everyone across Bolivia.[4]
What to expect on the holiday
The legal holiday covers public and private activities, so government workplaces and many other workplaces suspend activity. The Ministry of Labour has also stated that work required on a national holiday must be agreed with the worker or union, and that special arrangements may apply.[1][5]
Check directly with a specific bank, shop, restaurant or transport provider if you need a service, and allow for local street or access changes where ceremonies are scheduled.[3]
Frequently asked questions
When is Bolivia’s Independence Day?
Is Independence Day a day off?
Does the holiday move when August 6 falls on a Sunday?
The decree provides for a Monday transfer when a national holiday falls on Sunday, and Independence Day is not an exception.[1]
Are banks, shops and public transport open?
Check with the specific bank, business or transport operator before travelling.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for Independence Day in Bolivia:
- DECRETO SUPREMO N° 2750, DE 1 DE MAYO DE 2016- Gaceta Oficial del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
- FUNDACIÓN CULTURAL DEL BCB – CASA DE LA LIBERTAD- Casa de la Libertad, Fundación Cultural del Banco Central de Bolivia
- Inician los actos protocolares por los 196 años de Independencia de Bolivia (amplia)- Agencia Boliviana de Información
- ACTA DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LAS PROVINCIAS DEL ALTO PERÚ- Casa de la Libertad, Fundación Cultural del Banco Central de Bolivia
- MINISTERIO DE TRABAJO RATIFICA FERIADO PARA ESTE 6 Y 7 DE AGOSTO- Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social