When is National Heroes' Day in Barbados?
National Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Barbados on April 28th. If April 28th falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be a public holiday.
This public holiday celebrates the contribution of 10 national heroes to Barbados.
History of National Heroes' Day
The National Heroes of Barbados are the designees of the Order of National Heroes Act, which was passed by the Parliament of Barbados in 1998. The National Heroes were given the title 'The Right Excellent" as part of the act.
The people chosen were deemed to have given outstanding service to Barbados and contributed to the improvement of the economic and social conditions of Barbados.
The 10 National Heroes are:
- Bussa (d. 1816 )
- Sarah Ann Gill (1795–1866)
- Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806–1871)
- Charles Duncan O'Neal (1879–1936)
- Sir Grantley Herbert Adams (1898–1971)
- Clement Osbourne Payne (1904–1941)
- Sir Hugh Worrell Springer (1913–1994)
- Sir Frank Leslie Walcott (1916–1998)
- Errol Walton Barrow (1920–1987)
- Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers (b. 1936)
The first National Heroes Day was celebrated on April 28th 1998, the centenary of the birth of Sir Grantley Adams.
It can be said that Errol Barrow is remembered in two public holidays as he was declared as one of 10 Bajan National Heroes in 1998 and Earl Barrow Day is a public holiday in Barbados on 21st January.
Bussa is also remembered on Emancipation Day in Barbados, which is a public holiday on 1st August.
How is National Heroes' Day celebrated?
As a public holiday, commercial businesses will close and transport may run on a reduced schedule, but all the tourist facilities on the island remain open.
