Serf Emancipation Day is observed in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China every March 28. This holiday, also known as Serf Liberation Day, commemorates the end of serfdom and the Tibetan feudal theocratic social structure. It has been celebrated annually since 2009, marking the 50th anniversary of the reform initiated by the Chinese government in 1959, which aimed to democratize Tibetan society and eliminate feudalism. According to Chinese authorities, this reform liberated approximately one million people from feudalism; however, the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration contest the characterization of the previous system as "feudal serfdom." The holiday is controversial, with many Tibetans refusing to celebrate it, viewing it as an imposition by the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama's office has criticized the observance, suggesting it serves as a distraction from ongoing issues in Tibet.