Mon National Day

Mon National Day was first celebrated in 1947, marking the mythic foundation of last Mon kingdom, Hanthawaddy (now centred in Bago), in CE 573.^[3][4] The origins of Mon National Day parallel that of Karen New Year, as both were colonial-era celebrations that fostered the ethnic identity of these communities.^[3] The former was established by the United Mon Association via resolution, in October 1947 in the village of Kamawuk in Mudon Township.^[5]

In 1974, the Burma Socialist Programme Party-led government officially recognized Mon State Day on 19 March, to celebrate the establishment of Mon State.^[3]

Mon National Day is currently not recognized by the Burmese national government as a national holiday. However, in 2013, the Mon State Government expressed interest in organizing celebrations for the holiday.^[6] That same year, Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's de facto leader, spoke at large-scale Mon National Day celebrations held at Yangon's People's Square and Park.^[7] In 2016, activists and festivity organizers petitioned the national government to observe Mon National Day as a public holiday.^[8][9] Since 2017, the Mon State Government has earmarked funding for state-wide Mon National Day celebrations.^[10] In 2018, Mon and Kayin State Governments jointly earmarked funding for inaugural Mon National Day celebrations in Kayin State.^[11]