When is the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina is celebrated on 1 March each year. It marks the anniversary of the 1992 referendum in which citizens voted for a sovereign and independent state, separate from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Is it a public holiday?

Yes, Independence Day on 1 March is a national public holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it is officially observed only in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (one of the country’s two entities) and not in Republika Srpska.

History of Bosnia and Herzegovina independence day

The history of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia changed forever after the independence referendum held on 28 February and 1 March 1992. Citizens voted for a sovereign, independent Bosnia-Herzegovina built on the principle of equal citizens, including Muslims, Serbs, and Croats. While Bosnian Croat voters supported the move, many Bosnian Serbs boycotted it. The voter turnout was 63.6 per cent, and of these, 99.7 per cent backed independence. However, it fell short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority because only 64 per cent of eligible voters participated.

On 6 March, the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted the results. Shortly after, the European Community recognized the independent state on 7 April 1992. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Bosniak–Croat Federation, officially declared 1 March as Independence Day through a decision made on 28 February 1995. Since 1995, it has been celebrated as a national holiday. People often check a festive counter to track the countdown to this special day, making the festive atmosphere grow each year as the date approaches.

Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, the capital and largest city, has a population spread across the Sarajevo metropolitan area, including Sarajevo Canton, Istočno Sarajevo, and surrounding municipalities. Located in the Sarajevo valley of Bosnia and surrounded by the Dinaric Alps, it lies along the Miljacka River in the heart of the Balkans, Southeastern Europe. It serves as the political centre, financial centre, social centre, and cultural centre of the nation. The city is known for entertainment, media, fashion, and arts, earning nicknames like the Jerusalem of Europe and the Jerusalem of the Balkans. Its neighborhoods feature a mosque, Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, and synagogue.

Sarajevo’s roots go back to prehistoric times, but it became an Ottoman stronghold in the 15th century under the Ottoman empire. It entered world history when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated there by Young Bosnia member Gavrilo Princip, sparking World War I. Following the end of Austro-Hungarian rule, it became part of the multicultural Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After World War II, it was named the capital of the communist Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, spurring population expansion, infrastructure projects, and economic development.

The city also gained fame as the host of the 1984 Winter Olympics. However, it endured the 1,425-day siege from April 1992 to February 1996 during the Bosnian War. Today, post-war reconstruction has made Sarajevo the fastest growing city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lonely Planet once ranked it the 43rd best city in the world, and in December 2009, it was listed among the top ten cities to visit in 2010. In 2011, it was nominated as the 2014 European Capital of Culture, co-hosted the 2019 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, and was named a UNESCO Creative City and one of the Cities of Film. Visitors often use a festive counter to mark the countdown to major cultural events, which enhances the festive charm of the city year-round.