June 17 is Icelandic National Day (Icelandic: Þjóðhátíðardagurinn) which commemorates the foundation of the Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944. This date also marks the end of Iceland’s centuries old ties with Denmark.

The date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, a major figure of Icelandic culture and the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.