Qatar National Day: History and Significance of Founder’s Day

Qatar National Day (اليوم الوطني لقطر‎; Al-Yawm al-Waṭani li-Qaṭar), otherwise called Founder’s Day, is celebrated every year on 18 December to celebrate the Arab nation’s unification and independence.

This public holiday is always celebrated on December 18th. It is the National Day of Qatar and may likewise be known as ‘Founder Day’. If December 18th falls on a Friday or Saturday (the weekend in Qatar), at that point, the next Sunday might be given as a one-off public holiday.

Qatar National Day (Al-Yawm al-Waṭani li-Qaṭar) remembers the day in 1878 when Sheik Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani succeeded his dad, Sheik Muhammad Bin Thani, as the ruler of Qatar.

Qatari National Day History

Qatar had begun to form into a significant settlement in the 18th century. Following times of control from different nearby regions, incorporating concurrences with the British, the Ottoman Empire showed up in 1871 at the request of the Emir.

On December 18th, 1878, Sheik Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, succeeded his dad, Sheik Mohammed bin Thani, as ruler of Qatar, becoming its first Emir in a genealogy that proceeds right up ’til the present time.

Administering Qatar until his demise in 1913, Sultan Jassim is worshipped in Qatar as ‘The Founder’ as under his standard he brought together the tribes of the peninsula denoting the making of the modern state of Qatar. His leadership, both political and militarily, characterized Qatar’s status as a country in the perspective of the two key powers in the region around then – the Ottomans and the British.

During the first world war, the Ottoman Empire was falling apart because of losing a series of key fights. Qatar participated in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire, compelling the Ottomans from Doha in 1915.

In 1916 Qatar became a British protectorate. Qatar picked up independence from the United Kingdom and became an independent sovereign state on September 3rd, 1971. September 3rd was initially celebrated as Qatar’s National Day.

The holiday was set up on June 21st, 2007 by a pronouncement of the Emir and Heir Apparent Sheik Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. The greater part of the public is given the day off with schools and businesses closing.

Qatar National Day, otherwise called Founder’s Day, was moved to the 18 December date in 2007 by order of the then Crown Prince and Heir Apparent Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Before this order, National Day was praised on 3 September, the date on which Qatar authoritatively picked up its independence in 1971.

For the residents of Qatar, National Day is a day to celebrate the special history and heritage of the Qatari public and to keep traditions alive. It’s likewise a day of commemoration and respect for Sheik Jassim and the numerous others whose sacrifices led Qatar to its unification and inevitable independence.

Qatar National Day is celebrated in various ways across Qatar, however, may be the most conspicuous event is the Darb Al-Saai, which implies the “Route of the Messenger.” The Darb Al-Saai celebrations happen at Al Sadd in the Qatari capital of Doha, and they’re intended to reflect unique aspects of Qatari history.

The Darb Al-Saai festivities include camel and horse riding, falconry, shooting, military displays, and different activities of cultural importance. Traditional music, art, food, and attire are praised during the celebrations too, and the Qatar Tourism Authority offers guided tours to advise guests regarding the significance and history of every event.

It is a period for Qataris to praise their national identity and the holiday is set apart by an enormous parade in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The parade is the most famous event of the holiday and highlights shows from the Qatari military and culminates by an appearance of individuals from the ruling family.

Different activities incorporate firework shows, showings of traditional abilities, and sports competitions. Individuals may likewise decorate their vehicles with the national flag and other patriotic symbols.

Thousands accumulate to observe the shows. There’s a parade in the morning. At that point, there are light and water shows in the afternoon. In the early evening, there is a tremendous display of fireworks.

Qatar praised its National Day, under the motto Day of Unity, Loyalty, and Pride, to celebrate Sheik Jassim bin Mohammad bin Thani’s triumph against the Ottomans and later accomplished statehood for Qatar.

Somewhere else, different festivities incorporate the Katara National Day celebrations in the Katara Cultural Village. The Katara Cultural Village hosts an assortment of events going from educational workshops to fireworks and music shows.

A family-oriented National Day parade through the Doha Corniche additionally draws a huge number of participants every year. Jets, helicopters, and parachutists fill the skies with stunning aerial displays, while fighters, police, and camel-mounted military personnel march along the parade route. The feature of the parade is an appearance by Qatar’s Emir, who walks the route and interfaces with the accumulated group.

On the event of Qatar National Day, the Amiri Diwan reported that Thursday, December 17th, 2020, will be an official holiday and that representatives will resume work on Sunday, December 20th, 2020. Qatar National Day is celebrated every year on December 18.

Google Doodle on Qatar National Day 2020

On December 18, 2020, Google celebrates Qatar National Day 2020 with Google Doodle.

Represented in the Google Doodle artwork is Qatar’s maroon and white national flag, which was officially embraced in 1971, the year the nation pronounced its independence.

The maroon color–today called “Qatar maroon”– is believed to go back hundreds of years to the Bronze Age, when early settlers used local shellfish to make a purple-red color.

The particular colorant became a popular export and was used in royal garments. This color has come to hold incredible significance to Qatar’s national identity and today serves as a symbol of the nation’s cultural heritage and history.