Independence Day is a national holiday in North Macedonia celebrated on September 8th each year. The holiday commemorates the day when North Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. In addition to parades, music, festivals, concerts, and fireworks, Independence Day is a time when North Macedonians celebrate their cultural heritage. North Macedonia is a country with a complex cultural history, with a majority of its inhabitants being of Slavic descent and heirs to the Eastern Orthodox tradition of Christianity. However, the country’s 500 years of incorporation into the Ottoman Empire left substantial numbers of other ethnic groups, including Albanians, Turks, Vlachs (Aromani), and Roma (Gypsies). Independence Day is a time when North Macedonians come together to celebrate their shared cultural identity and their country’s independence.