Independence Day is observed in Saint Lucia every February 22, commemorating the day in 1979 when the island achieved full independence from the United Kingdom. Saint Lucia, located in the Caribbean Sea, has a rich colonial history, having been contested by both the French and the British from the early 17th century until it was officially ceded to Britain in 1814. Although Independence Day is a significant public holiday, it is not the national day of Saint Lucia; that distinction belongs to December 13, which celebrates Saint Lucy, the island's patron saint. On Independence Day, various celebrations take place, reflecting the island's cultural heritage and its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. The day is marked by events that honor the nation’s journey to independence and its continued recognition of the British monarch as the titular head of state.