To commemorate its creation, Laos celebrates National Day on the 2nd of December every year.
It was against the backdrop of the Cold War that the Laotian civil war was fought. In 1975, the Pathet Lao overthrew the royalist Lao government. With King Savang Vatthana's abdication, the monarchy was abolished. Prince Souphanouvong and Kaysone Phomvihane became the first President and Prime Minister of Lao PDR respectively.
The new blue, red and white flag will be displayed prominently. Blue represents the Mekong, red represents the blood that was shed for independence, and white represents the unity. There are rallies at daybreak, and parades and performances around the entire country. Ethnic groups don their traditional costumes for the day too.
