The normal effect of a national holiday—especially one marking nationhood or independence—is a unification of the nation’s people. National pride in a country can unify a people in times of economic adversity or acts of aggression by a neighboring country. National pride can also be exploited by aggressive leadership. But is “national pride” necessarily evil? To answer this question, we must consider the Bible—the oldest reliable, credible source of information available to us.
National holidays may be civic, religious or both. Examples of civic holidays are the many “Independence Day” celebrations—such as July 4 in America, and Bastille Day in France. Since 1810 Mexico’s Independence Day has been celebrated on September 16. But Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo celebration is also very important, as it celebrates the victory of the Mexican army at the battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862, which was important in maintaining Mexico’s independence from European powers.
Virtually every nation has holidays marking significant historical events such as its founding date or its independence from foreign domination.
An example of a combined civic/religious holiday is the Passover of the people of Israel. The Passover celebration commemorates Israel’s liberation from Egyptian bondage and the Exodus toward a national homeland. It also is a memorial of a covenant relationship established between God and the people of Israel—which Jesus Christ magnified for His people of spiritual Israel.
God is the author of “nationhood.” In Genesis 10:1–32, He reveals the origin of nations—families that have grown large enough to possess and hold a territory. Then, later in Genesis, we read the account of God’s promise to Abram: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:4–8).
Regardless of our national heritage, we should thank and praise God for our liberties and our national blessings. It can be good for us to commemorate our national founding and origin—to remember our national roots.