Angam Day
The angam day is a national holiday in the island republic of Nauru , the world to the island of Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean belongs. Nauru is the smallest island nation in the world.
Angam Day is celebrated annually in Nauru on October 26th . Twice in the history of Naurus the population fell below 1,500 residents. The Nauruan people threatened to die out. But on both occasions the population increased and exceeded 1,500 each. Nauruan residents, those days were proclaimed as Angam Day. The first Angam was in 1932, the second Angam in 1949.
etymology
The Nauruan word Angam or ANAM means something like, cheering ',' joy ',' Celebration ',' triumph over adversity 'or' return '.
history
Before the Angam
Around 1921, after Nauru fell from the German Empire to Australia , the then Australian administrator, Brigadier General Thomas Griffiths, carried out a census . At this point in time, the population of Naurus had fallen to 1,068 due to epidemics of dysentery and influenza . In a meeting with the tribal chiefs, he explained that this number was too small for the Nauru and that the number should never fall below 1500 if the Nauru were to survive. It was then announced that the day of the birth of the 1500th Nauruer would be an island-wide holiday and that the newborn, the so-called Angam Baby , would be honored with gifts. The tribal chiefs and Griffiths agreed to call this day Angam Day .
First Angam
After 13 years, the Nauruan population reached 1500 people. The first Angam baby was born on October 26, 1932.
However, it turned out that there would be another Angam Day. During the Japanese occupation of Naurus in World War II , in 1201 Nauru were deported to labor camps in Chuuk . Of these, only 737 returned after the end of the war, and with the 600 or so who remained on Nauru , a total of about 1400 Nauru survived.
The now 13-year-old Angam baby Eidegenegen Eidagaruwo did not make it back from Chuuk; like most deportees, it died of malnutrition or bacterial diseases .
Second Angam
After the Second World War it became clear that the Nauruer had to increase their population a second time; the race for a second Angam baby began.
On March 31, 1949, Bethel Enproe Adam was born in Boe to Kenye and Clarence Adam and Angam Day took place again. Even if Bethel Adam was born on a different day, October 26th is still the official Angam Day.