Independence Day in Kiribati is observed every July 12 and commemorates the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. The celebration takes place primarily in South Tarawa, the capital, at the Bairiki National Stadium, where festivities include the raising of the national flag accompanied by the national anthem, speeches from the President, and a vibrant parade. The celebrations typically last several days and incorporate traditional dance performances, kite-flying, canoe races, and various sports events. Kiribati, a small island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, consists of 32 atolls and reef islands, with a population of just over 110,000, more than half of whom reside on Tarawa Atoll. The historical context includes the islands' first habitation by Micronesians and subsequent European exploration, culminating in their transition to self-determination and eventual independence.