# Emancipation Day Made a Holiday (1985)

URL: https://allhistories.com/trinidad-and-tobago/timeline/1985-emancipation-day-made-a-holiday
Location: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Themes: main-event

Slavery in the British Empire was abolished on 1 August 1834, though full freedom came only with the end of apprenticeship on 1 August 1838. In independent Trinidad and Tobago, however, the national calendar marked not emancipation but Discovery Day, commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival off the south coast of Trinidad on 31 July 1498. Since the Black Power movement of 1970, African-centred organisations had campaigned for official recognition of emancipation. In 1985 the government replaced Discovery Day with Emancipation Day on 1 August, and the holiday was first observed that year. Trinidad and Tobago is often described as the first independent country to make emancipation a national public holiday, though the Bahamas had observed a similar holiday earlier. The Emancipation Support Committee organises the main commemorations, which begin with an all-night vigil and include religious services, processions through Port of Spain past historic sites, addresses by national leaders and an African-themed village at the Queen's Park Savannah. The new holiday symbolised a reassessment of national history from the perspective of the descendants of the enslaved. It was later complemented by Indian Arrival Day and Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day, reflecting the multi-ethnic character of the national calendar. At this point in the timeline (1 August 1985), the President of Trinidad and Tobago was Sir Ellis Clarke (March 1982 – 19 March 1987). Government: the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago was George Chambers (30 March 1981 – 18 December 1986).

## Why it matters
Emancipation Day placed the end of slavery at the centre of the national calendar in place of Columbus's arrival.

Ruler at the Time: [Sir Ellis Clarke (1982–1987)](https://allhistories.com/trinidad-and-tobago/rulers/ellis-clarke-1982)

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago: George Chambers (People's National Movement)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Emancipation Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day)
- [Wikipedia — Public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago)
- [National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS)](https://www.nalis.gov.tt/)
- [Wikipedia — The Modern Republic (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_and_Tobago)