The Official Birthday of HM King Tupou is celebrated on July 4th in Tonga. This day marks the birthday of the reigning Sovereign, HM King Tupou VI. Although his actual birthday is on July 12th, the date of his coronation was adopted as his official birthday for ceremonial purposes. The ceremonial aspects of his accession took place in July and August 2008, where he was formally recognized as the Tuʻi Kanokupolu, and the rightful descendant of King George Tupou I, who united Tonga in the 19th century. The celebration involves having kava, hundreds of baskets of food, and seventy cooked pigs presented to the King and the assembly of chiefs and nobles.