It commemorates South Ossetia's declaration of independence from the Georgian SSR in 1990, and the country's recognition as a sovereign state by Russia in 2008.

[1] After the Soviet Army invaded Georgia in 1921, the government declared South Ossetia an autonomous region within the Georgian SSR.

[1] On September 20, 1990, the Council of People's Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast adopted a declaration of sovereignty of the new republic.

[2] In August 2008, South Ossetia was recognized by Russia, Venezuela, Nauru, and Nicaragua, other unrecognized counties such as Artsakh, Abkhazia and Transnistria following the week long Russo-Georgian War of 2008.

[citation needed] Concerts are also held in stadiums and music centers in the capital and throughout the country.