Chile National Unity Day

Chile National Unity Day

First Monday in September

In 1973, Chilean General Augusto Pinochet led a military coup that toppled the government of President Salvador Allende. Allende had been democratically elected, and his administration was replaced by a military dictatorship led by Pinochet. The government created a national holiday, celebrated on September 11, to mark the anniversary of the 1973 military coup. In 1998 the Chilean legislature voted to abolish the September 11 holiday. In its place, the legislature created National Unity Day, which has been celebrated since 1999.
Many Chileans have bitter memories of the years of military rule, when many citizens were arrested and never seen again. The purpose of National Unity Day is to promote reconciliation and justice in Chile. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Monday in September.

CONTACTS:
Embassy of Chile
1732 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-785-1746; fax: 202-887-5579
www.chile-usa.org

Celebration days: Sep 5, 2011; Sep 3, 2012; Sep 2, 2013; Sep 1, 2014; Sep 7, 2015