Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda is observed on November 1 every year, commemorating the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. This public holiday is celebrated with various festive events across the nation, which consists of two major islands and several smaller ones located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The islands were first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and were colonized by the English in 1632. They became part of the Leeward Islands colony in 1672 and underwent several administrative changes until becoming a state in free association with the UK in 1967. The anniversary of independence is now marked as a national holiday, reflecting the country's history and cultural significance within the Commonwealth of Nations.