17 Agustus tahun 45
Itulah hari kemerdekaan kita
Hari merdeka, nusa dan bangsa
Lahirnya bangsa Indonesia
Merdeka!
Sekali merdeka tetap merdeka!
………

That is a part of the Hari Merdeka anthem. Independence Day (Hari Kemerdekaan) colloquially known as Tujuh Belasan is a National Holiday in Indonesia commemorating the anniversary of the Indonesia’s Proclamation of Independence on August 17 th , 1945. It was made a national holiday by then-President Soekarno in 1953.

Ceremonies and festive events are held throughout the country to celebrate this national day, including flag hoistings, local games and neighbourhood competitions, patriotic and cultural parades. Discounts are offered by participating shopping centres or businesses.

On this day, all Indonesian national televisions broadcast the National Independence Day Ceremony live from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Televisions also air Indonesian patriotic songs, nationalistic-themed films, advertisements, and talk shows.

But there is something different on Indonesia’s independence day in this year, The excitement is not like in previous years because currently Indonesia is still in the era of the corona pandemic which has attacked this country since several months ago. However, this nation can still feel the excitement with the flying of “Merah Putih” flags in front of citizen’s houses and ornate trinkets depicting the independence of the Indonesian nation installed in every corner
of the country.

Then what does BBC-ETS usually do in celebrating this independence day? BBC-ETS held a series of activities to celebrate the independence day, including competitions identical to the 17s, such as a cracker eating competition, plastic breaking competitions, balloon carrying competitions, speech competitions, and many others. But it is a shame that those competitions were held in previous years. This year they cannot be held as usual. However, BBC-ETS continues to hold online activities to commemorate Indonesia’s independence day, so that BBC- ETS students still feel the joy of the celebration of Indonesia’s independence day.

MERDEKA…!!!