Emancipation Day is observed in Bermuda on the Thursday before the first Monday of August, coinciding with the start of Cup Match, a two-day cricket tournament. This public holiday commemorates the abolition of slavery, marking the end of slavery in Bermuda, which began when the first slaves were brought to the islands in the 17th century. The slave trade was outlawed in Bermuda in 1807, and all slaves were freed on August 1, 1834, with the implementation of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. The Cup Match tournament, which began in 1902, features rival cricket clubs from Somerset and St George's and has become a significant cultural event, leading to the establishment of the holiday in 1947 to accommodate the many people who took time off work to attend. Emancipation Day serves not only as a celebration of freedom but also as a highlight of Bermuda's sporting culture.