The Day of the Tribes, also known as Ibumin Earoeni Day, is observed in Nauru every August 19 as a public holiday to honor the country's twelve traditional tribes and its matrilineal system. Nauru, a Micronesian island nation in the Central Pacific, has a population of about 10,500 people, making it the second smallest sovereign state by population. The twelve tribes, represented by the twelve-pointed star on the national flag, include Iruwa, Eamwit, and Ranibok, among others, with Iruwa being the most populous. Historically, Nauruans traced their descent through their mothers, and although tribal divisions have diminished in significance today, the celebration acknowledges the integral role of these tribes in Nauruan society. The government of Nauru inaugurated this holiday to recognize and celebrate the cultural heritage of the tribes, which were traditionally peaceful until disrupted by European influences leading to civil conflict.