Earthquake Memorial Day, observed on October 6, is an annual remembrance ritual observed in Turkmenistan. It is a day designated to remember the victims of the 1948 earthquake that devastated the country. The quake, which was centered near the capital city of Ashgabat, is thought to have killed up to 110,000 people, or about 10% of the country’s population at the time. Along with the day, numerous memorials have been erected in Turkmenistan to commemorate the earthquake that changed the country.
Honduras: Discovery of America Day
Discovery of America Day, or Columbus Day, is celebrated on October 6 every year in Honduras. It commemorates the date when Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, first set foot in the Americas and kickstarted a new age in the region. The traditional date for this holiday is October 12. However, Latin American countries have since celebrated October 12 as “Dia de la Raza” (Day of the Race), shifting the focus toward celebrating the original American races and cultures instead of celebrating Columbus’ arrival. Thus, it has become a day that honors the Hispanic cultures that existed on the continent before Columbus’ arrival.
October Liberatory War
October Liberatory War Day, on October 6, is a public holiday in Syria commemorating the Yom Kippur War of 1973. The war is notable for the Arab world’s small victory in coaxing Israel to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. Despite the heavy Arab casualties and Israel’s relentless counterattack, the war was halted by a United Nations-brokered ceasefire, which paved the way for Israeli peace talks with Egypt. This culminated in a formal peace treaty between the two states in 1979 and a renewed hope for peace in the region, a notion that would prove to be easier said than done.