Commemorative days — whether holidays or solemn observances — are more than days off. They serve as powerful markers of identity, memory, and narrative. Around the world, rivals sometimes create counter-commemorations—deliberate observances designed to invert or challenge the meaning of an existing date. This phenomenon can also be referred to as holiday hijacking and shows how even a single day on the calendar can become a battleground for collective memory.

In the United States, for example, Columbus Day, observed on the second Monday in October, celebrates the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. Many communities, however, observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date, reframing the story to honor Native American history and resilience.

Similarly, Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is traditionally remembered as a day of national unity, but it is also countered by the National Day of Mourning or Unthanksgiving Day, highlighting the suffering and displacement experienced by Native Americans.

Other countries have similar cases. In Australia, Australia Day on January 26 marks the arrival of the First Fleet, but Indigenous Australians commemorate the same day as Day of Mourning, Invasion Day, or Survival Day, emphasizing colonization and resistance.

In Japan, August 15 is the day of Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. The Allies commemorate it as Victory over Japan Day, while in Japan it is observed as Shūsen-kinenbi (“Day for Mourning of War Dead”), reflecting contrasting national narratives of defeat and peace.

These examples show how symbolic dates are not neutral—they are contested. Establishing a commemoration on a particular........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)