Every year on May 25, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan celebrates Independence Day ( Eid al-Istiklal ). This is one of the most massive and scalable public holidays in Jordan.
If the history of Jordan as an independent state is not so great, and begins the countdown since 1946, then the history of the lands on which this state of the Middle East is located has more than a thousand-year history.
The events described in the Old Testament, including the exodus of Jews from Egypt and the arrival of the Promised Land, are inextricably linked with the lands on which Jordan is today. Archaeological excavations make it possible to assert that the oldest tools found in these lands and indicating the development of agriculture date back to the period of 8500-4500. BC. In the late Bronze Age, these lands were influenced by Egypt, and later, around 1200. BC, a significant part of the lands of modern Jordan ( the countries of Moab and Ammon ) became part of the Hebrew state. At the turn of the new era, these lands, together with their adjacent territories, were part of the Nabatean civilization, the capital of which was the city of Petra ( one of the main modern attractions of Jordan ). Later, these lands became part of the Roman Empire as one of the provinces.
Byzantium had a further impact on the culture of Jordan. During its heyday, Christian temples were built on the territory of modern Jordan, and the seed of Christian culture was abandoned. In the era of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the crusaders formed a vassal territory east of the Jordan River, called Transjordan. After the fall of Jerusalem, Transjordan was ruled by the Mamluk Sultanate, and then became part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman period in the history of Jordan lasted from 1517 to 1918.
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Jordan became part of the mandated territories of the League of Nations, and in 1922 the League of Nations transferred the mandate to these lands of Great Britain.
Jordan's Independence Day is connected with the events of 1946, when on May 25 the Principality of Transjordan gained independence and became known as the Hashemite kingdom of Transjordan. King Abdullah ibn Hussein stood at the head of the country.
A year later, an Arab-Israeli war broke out, as a result of which Transjordan occupied the land on the western bank of the Jordan River. In April 1949, the country became known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This emphasized the fact that territories were part of the country on both banks of the Jordan River.
For Jordanians, the annual celebration of Independence Day – is pride in their country and people. All festive events held on this day in the country are aimed at emphasizing the importance of the historical event of May 25, 1946.
For Jordanian citizens, May 25 is a non-working day. The streets and urban areas are filled with people with the national flags of Jordan. A parade is being held in the capital of Jordan, Amman, and the entire royal family takes part in the celebration. The king addresses the nation with a congratulation, who himself accepts congratulations from foreign guests at an official reception specially organized on the occasion of the holiday.