January 10th ~ Margaret Thatcher Day in Falkland Islands

Margaret Thatcher Day in the Falkland Islands

On January 10th of each year, the Falkland Islands observes Margaret Thatcher day which celebrates the time when the UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, visited the Falkland Islands for the first time in 1992. This visit and the special day occurred approximately 6 months after the war ended between Argentina and the United Kingdom. This war was over the possession of the Falkland Islands. Spoiler alert, Argentina had lost that war.

The History

To start off, the Falkland Islands is a group of islands in the South Atlantic Oceans. When Argentina gained its Independence, it wanted to possess the islands for itself. Of course, Great Britain had also gone to claim and take ownership as well and they had ignored the claim that Argentina had made and thus started the war between both countries.

Sometime during the war, Argentina had a new president named General Leopoldo Galtieri, in 1981. Also, during the war, the General decided to invade the Falkland Islands in order to gain more popularity. However, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher helped in the decision of sending a task force to take back the ownership of the islands thus also resulting in the force of Argentina surrendering, the war ending, and Great Britain winning. And every since this historical event, the Falkland Islands will celebrate this holiday in honor of Margaret's visit that day!

Summary

Country celebrating: Falkland Islands
Celebrating activities: Learning more about the war between Argentina and the UK and about the visit of Margaret which had put the war to an end. People will also use the hashtags: #MargaretThatcherDay on social media as another way to celebrate!

Subject to edits by the instrucors