Tunisia Revolution and Youth Day (December 17): History
Revolution and Youth Day is a public holiday in Tunisia on December 17. It marks the start of the 2010–2011 Tunisian Revolution — sometimes called the Jasmine Revolution — which began in the town of Sidi Bouzid and went on to inspire protest movements across the Arab world, widely known as the Arab Spring.
| Name | Revolution and Youth Day (Tunisia) |
|---|---|
| When | Every year on December 17 |
| Next date | Thursday, December 17, 2026 · in 33 days |
| Type | Public Holidays |
| Observed in | 🇹🇳 Tunisia |
| Topic | Patriotic & History |
| First observed | 2010 |
| Public holiday? | Yes |
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 17 every year |
| Marks | Start of the Tunisian Revolution, December 17, 2010 |
| Where it began | Sidi Bouzid, central Tunisia |
| Result | President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left the country on January 14, 2011 |
| Holiday change | In 2021 the official Revolution Day moved from January 14 to December 17 |
| Nobel Peace Prize 2015 | Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet |
What Happened
On December 17, 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, a young street vendor in Sidi Bouzid, staged a desperate protest after officials confiscated his goods. He died weeks later. His story became a symbol of frustration over unemployment, corruption and lack of freedom, and protests spread rapidly across Tunisia, organised largely by young people using mobile phones and social media.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 17, 2010 | Protests begin in Sidi Bouzid |
| Late December 2010 | Demonstrations spread to other cities |
| January 14, 2011 | President Ben Ali leaves Tunisia after 23 years in power |
| October 2011 | Elections for a Constituent Assembly |
| January 2014 | New constitution adopted |
| 2015 | The National Dialogue Quartet wins the Nobel Peace Prize for helping build a pluralistic democracy |
A Day Dedicated to Youth
Because young Tunisians led the protests, the holiday also honours the role of youth in public life. Events include cultural programmes, debates and gatherings in Sidi Bouzid and other cities.
👉 Also December 17: Wright Brothers Day
👉 Also December 17: Bhutan National Day
Tunisia at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Tunis |
| Population | About 12 million |
| Independence from France | March 20, 1956 (Independence Day) |
| UNESCO sites | Carthage, Medina of Tunis, El Djem amphitheatre, Dougga and more |
| Language | Arabic; French is widely used |
The Arab Spring
Events in Tunisia in December 2010 and January 2011 inspired protests in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain and other countries in 2011. Outcomes differed greatly from country to country. For several years Tunisia was widely seen as the movement’s most successful democratic transition, with a new constitution in 2014 and the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to its National Dialogue Quartet in 2015.
Tunisia’s National Holidays
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Independence Day | March 20 |
| Martyrs’ Day | April 9 |
| Republic Day | July 25 |
| Women’s Day | August 13 |
| Evacuation Day | October 15 |
| Revolution and Youth Day | December 17 |
When is Revolution and Youth Day (Tunisia)?
Revolution and Youth Day (Tunisia) is observed every year on December 17. Here are the dates for the coming years:
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Countdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 17, 2026 | Thursday | in 33 days |
| 2027 | December 17, 2027 | Friday | in 398 days |
| 2028 | December 17, 2028 | Sunday | in 764 days |
| 2029 | December 17, 2029 | Monday | in 1129 days |
| 2030 | December 17, 2030 | Tuesday | in 1494 days |
| 2031 | December 17, 2031 | Wednesday | in 1859 days |
FAQ
It is celebrated on December 17.
The start of the 2010–2011 Tunisian Revolution in Sidi Bouzid.
In 2021, the official Revolution Day was moved to December 17 to mark the beginning of the uprising rather than the departure of President Ben Ali.
It is a name for the Tunisian Revolution of 2010–2011, which inspired the wider Arab Spring.