Independence Day
The day of Independence of the Republic of Peru is celebrated on July, 28. This day in 1821 general José de San Martín declared the independence of Peru.

In 1820 the liberation army of San Martin marched into the territory of Peru. Having occupied Lima, he declared Peru independent on July 28, 1821. Although after that the struggle against Spanish troops was going on 5 years more, the very date of July, 28 has been celebrating as Independence Day.

This day there are parades of civil and military organizations. The celebration begins at dawn from the flag-raising ceremony and cannon shots. The integral part of the celebrations is a traditional president's Address to the Nation.

Armed Forces and the National Police Day
On October 3, 1968 a "revolutionary government of armed forces" headed by General Juan Velazco Alvarado came to power after a coup d'etat. Profound social economic reforms were implemented.

The first step of new authorities, that drew a wide response not only in Latin America, became property nationalization of American oil company IPK, that had exploited national wealth of Peru for 40 years. IPK was a kind of a state within a state, being one of the worst examples of practical realization of policy when concerns of developed countries unrestrainedly had robbed the natural resources of developing countries. On the territory owned by this American monopoly there were its own laws.

At the same time, IPK even did not pay any taxes, which it was due to pay to Peruvian state. As result, the sums of the debts became astronomical, that was certified by the independent experts from France. Later the day of nationalization of IPK, October 9, 1968 became the Day of National Dignity.

Translated from: calend.ru