The Cape Verde flag is instantly recognisable: a blue background with a horizontal stripe of white and red, and a circle of ten yellow stars. The blue represents the ocean and the sky. The white and red stripe stands for peace and hard work. The ten yellow stars represent the ten islands — each star for each island that makes up the country.
Independence Day celebrations begin with official ceremonies — speeches, the raising of the flag, and the national anthem. But the real celebration happens in the streets. In Mindelo, Praia, and towns across all ten islands, people gather to eat, dance, sing, and enjoy the warm July evening together.
The day is also a time for Cape Verdeans abroad to feel connected to home. There are large Cape Verdean communities in Portugal, the United States (especially Boston and Providence), the Netherlands, and many other countries. On July 5th, Cape Verdeans around the world celebrate together, even from far away.
For children, Independence Day often means a day off school, wearing national colours, and joining in the street festivities. Schools sometimes put on plays, art exhibitions, or music performances about Cape Verdean history and culture in the days before the holiday.