Patriots' Victory Day, or Arbegnoch Qen ( ) in Amharic, is a national public holiday in Ethiopia celebrated annually on May 5. The term "Patriots' Day in Ethiopia" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a proper noun, identifying this specific commemoration. It marks the end of the five-year-long Italian occupation and celebrates the Ethiopian patriot fighters (Arbegnoch) who resisted the invasion.
The holiday's historical context is rooted in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. In 1936, Fascist Italy, under Benito Mussolini, invaded and occupied Ethiopia, forcing Emperor Haile Selassie into exile. For the next five years, Ethiopian resistance fighters waged a persistent guerrilla war against the occupying forces. The date, May 5, 1941, is significant because it marks the day Emperor Haile Selassie triumphantly returned to the capital, Addis Ababa, with the help of Allied forces, symbolizing the restoration of Ethiopian sovereignty and the official end of the occupation.
Today, the day is observed with solemn ceremonies, particularly in Addis Ababa at the Arat Kilo monument (the Patriots' Victory Monument). The event typically includes a wreath-laying ceremony attended by the President of Ethiopia, military officials, foreign diplomats, and descendants of the patriot fighters. The commemoration serves as a powerful national symbol of anti-colonial resistance, sacrifice, and the preservation of Ethiopian independence, honoring the memory of those who fought and died for their country's freedom.
