Nativity of Liberator Bernardo O'Higgins
August 20, Wednesday
Ñuble
When it’s observed
- Date: Around August 20 (O’Higgins was born on August 20, 1778).
- Observance rule: By law, it is typically moved to the nearest Monday to create a long weekend. Check the official calendar each year for the exact date.
Who was Bernardo O’Higgins
- Independence leader who, alongside José de San Martín, helped secure Chile’s independence from Spain (battles of Chacabuco, 1817, and Maipú, 1818).
- Served as Supreme Director (1817–1823), promoting reforms, national symbols, and the consolidation of the state.
- Resigned amid political conflict and lived in exile in Peru, where he died in 1842.
- Revered as the “Padre de la Patria” (Father of the Fatherland); Chile’s O’Higgins Region is named after him.
How Chile marks the day
- Official ceremonies with wreath‑laying at O’Higgins monuments nationwide and at his memorial in central Santiago (Altar de la Patria).
- Civic‑military parades and flag‑raising ceremonies organized by local authorities.
- School and community events highlighting Chilean history and O’Higgins’ legacy.
- Cultural activities in places closely tied to his life, especially Chillán Viejo (his birthplace) and the O’Higgins Region.
Status as a public holiday
- It is a national public holiday (feriado legal).
- It is generally not an “irrenunciable” holiday, so many shops and services remain open, while government offices, banks, and most schools are closed.