Angam Day

The Nauruan word angam means "jubilation", "celebration", "to have triumphed over all hardships" [1] or "to have reached a set goal" or "coming home".

[2] Upon eclipsing a population of 1,500, a number considered to be the minimum required for the survival of a race (decided by the administrators of Nauru its chiefs after much deliberation),[3] Angam Day was declared.

[4] The first goal came about in 1919, just after World War I, when the war-time occupation of Nauru and other Pacific islands was continued by forces of the British Empire, who had, in contravention of international treaty obligations, wrested these colonies from Imperial Germany.

Aiwo District had the largest bonfire with blue flames, made by stoking the fire with copper wire.

During the Japanese occupation of Nauru and other Pacific territories during World War II, 1,201 Nauruans were evacuated to Truk (now Chuuk).

The aftermath of WWII showed the Nauruans that, to survive as a race, they would have to strive to increase their population for a second time.

Muriel donned a replica of the dress she and other female returnees from Truk wore on their return to Nauru in 1946 after two years in exile.