December 11 Holidays

International Mountain Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to raise awareness for the importance of mountains — which cover 27 percent of the Earth’s land surface, provide freshwater for half the world’s population, and are home to approximately 15 percent of all plant and animal species. Burkina Faso Republic Day marks December 11, 1958, when Upper Volta — renamed Burkina Faso in 1984 — proclaimed its autonomous republic within the French Community, a step toward full independence in 1960. Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster marks December 11, 1931, when the Statute of Westminster gave Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State legislative independence from Britain — transforming the British Empire into the British Commonwealth. National App Day was established to celebrate the mobile application — a software product format whose 8 million apps in the combined App Store and Google Play generate more than $420 billion in annual revenue.