Patriots' Victory Day is an Ethiopian public holiday that marks the end of the Italian occupation.
It commemorates those who died during the occupation and honors veterans of the resistance movement.
The holiday is celebrated on May 5.
In the early 20th century, Ethiopia was the only African country to retain its sovereignty and not become a colony.
Its independence was interrupted by the Second Italo-Ethiopian war that started in October 1935.
The war resulted in the military occupation of the country.
Italian troops entered Addis Ababa on May 5, 1936, and hoisted the Italian tricolor in front of the Italian legation.
At the early stages of WWII, British forces helped patriot Ethiopian fighters liberate the country.
Emperor Haile Selassie made his entrance into Addis Ababa on May 5, 1941.
Patriots' Victory Day was declared to commemorate the end of the occupation.
