National Festividades

During the colonial period they didn't exist neither national parties could exist, but in 
Venezuela, like in the whole rest of the Spanish Empire, the reining king's saint took place 
and they were also carried out parties when a new king ascended to the throne or with 
reason of princes' weddings. During the time of the Independence, without they had 
character of national party, it was sometimes commemorated the anniversary of April 19 
1810 and that of July 5 1811. In Caracas, the Patriotic Society remembered in April of 1811 
with numerous acts, such as manifestations, graphic propaganda and speeches, the first 
anniversary of April 19 1810. Starting from 1817, the patriots also celebrated the san 
festivity Simón, October 28, onomastic day of Simón Bolívar, as a homage to their person. 
December 17 1819 the Congress of Venezuela gathered in Narrowness dictated, to 
proposition of Simón Bolívar, the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Colombia, which 
was countersigned the same day by the own Liberator president. This way, Venezuela and 
the New Granada passed to constitute a single State, to which incorporated the Ecuador 
then. The articles 13 and 14 of this Fundamental Law, applicable to the Venezuelan 
territory as part of the great Republic, they said this way: «…13. The Republic of Colombia 
will be solemnly proclaimed in the Towns and the Armies, with parties and rejoicings 
publics, being verified in this capital (Narrowness) the average December 25 in celebrity of 
the birth of the Saviour of the World under whose patronage this wanted meeting has been 
achieved, for which the State is regenerated…» «…14. The anniversary of this Political 
regeneration will perpetually take place with a National Party in that you/they will be 
rewarded like in those of Olimpia the virtues and the lights…» The first officially decreed 
national party coincided, consequently, with the Christian tradition of keeping the Nativity 
of the Mr.. It is interesting to remember that already December 24 1811 (although without 
establishing a national party) the deputies to the Constituent Congress of Venezuela had 
declared that «…era habit to suspend the Government's acts in the next parties of 
Christmas…», and they had been declared in recess up to January 2 1812. Such a habit, like 
it is of supposing, she/he came from the colonial time. To that Christian tradition it was 
added, in 1819, according to that averaged by the article 14, a reminiscence of the 
Olympiads of the classic Greece. July of 1821, 12 the Constituent Congress of Colombia 
(the Great Colombia) gathered in Cúcuta it ratified and it enlarged the Fundamental Law of 
1819 by means of other titled Fundamental Law of the Union of the Towns of Colombia 
whose articles 13 and 14 said: «…13. There will perpetually be a National Party for three 
days in that she/he takes place the Anniversary: Of the Emancipation and absolute 
Independence of the Towns of Colombia. Of their union in a single Republic, and 
establishment of the Constitution. Of the big victories and immortal victories with which 
they have been conquered and insured these goods (...) 14. The National Party will take 
place every year in the days 25, 26 and 27 of December, being consecrated every day to the 
special memory of one of the three glorious reasons and they will be rewarded in her the 
virtues, the lights and the services made to the Homeland…» The establishment of these 
national parties didn't prevent that the Venezuelan town continues taking place during the 
period grancolombiano, although without character of official party, the anniversaries of 
April 19 1810 and of July of 1811, 5 like it happened, for example, in the city of 
Narrowness, April 19 and July of 1820, 5 according to news published in the Mail of the 
Orinoco. 
After the breakup of the Great Colombia in 1830, the first Venezuelan law of national 
parties was dictated April 15 1834 by the Congress and countersigned by the Executive the 
day 16. She/he declared «big national days» April 19 and July 5 in commemoration of the 
revolutionary movement begun in Caracas April 19 1810 and of the declaration of the 
national independence July 5 1811. These dates have always been and in a continuous way 
from then on the 2 more outstanding civic commemorations. Up to 1849, the 2 only 
national parties were already those mentioned; but March of that year 14, the Congress 
added other 2: January 24, in memory of the political events of January of 1848, 24 and 
October 28, as homage to the Libertador Simón Bolívar; in that time it was widespread 
belief that this had been born October of 1783, 28 day of san Simón, and not July 24 like it 
was in fact. The date of January 24 was suppressed definitively as national party June of 
1858, 19 by means of ordinance of the general Julián Castro, as in charge of the Executive 
Power. They continued being it April 19, July 5 and October 28. June 6 1874 the Congress 
added to the existent national parties, a more: April 27, in memory of the day in that the 
revolutionary movement headed by the general Antonio White Guzmán with the taking of 
Caracas April 27 1870 had triumphed. After having concluded the régime of White 
Guzmán in 1888, the date of April 27 was eliminated as national party. In honor of May of 
1899, 23 it dates of the initiation of the Restoring Revolution, the general Cipriano Castro 
decreed as national party May 23. July of 1909, 23 the Congress dictated a new Law of 
National Parties that repealed all the previous ones expressly and it fixed as days of civic 
commemoration April 19, June 24, July 5 and October 28. This law was countersigned 
August 5 1909 by president Juan Vicente Gómez. This leader instituted as national party 
December 19, commemorative of that of 1908 in which assumed the power. The previous 
law was substituted by another act legislative of May of 1918, 16 countersigned by 
president Victorino Márquez Bustillos the 19. The native days were reduced at 3: April 19, 
July 5 and July 24. For the first time, October 28 left of being considered as day of the 
Liberator's birth and she/he was substituted the correct date, July 24. A new national 
holiday was added at the 3 previous by means of the approved law June 1 1921 for the 
Congress and countersigned by president Victorino Márquez Bustillos the day 11; the new 
festival date belonged October 12, like memory of the arrival from Christopher Columbus 
to American earth, October 12 1492. In 1945, the president of the Republic Isaías Medina 
Angarita decrees May 1 like Day of the Worker and deroga the ordinance of April 18 1938 
(dictation this for president Eleazar López Contreras) that had established July 24, day of 
Simón Bolivar's birthday, as Day of the Worker. 
With reason of the sesquicentenario of the battle of given Carabobo June 24 1821 the 
national Government decreed June 24 like national party. This law was approved by the 
Congress June 17 1971 and countersigned by the president of the Republic, Rafael Caldera, 
21 in the same month. We have this way that at the present time annually take place as 
national parties the days 19 of April, June 24, 5 and 24 of July and October 12 and also 
May 1 that, for presidential ordinance, it was declared Day of the Worker