Regional/Cultural Day
Genghis Khaanii Odor
The birthday of Temujin, who would become Genghis Khan, is observed as a day of national pride and historical reflection. Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire in 1206, and it became the largest contiguous empire in history, stretching from Korea to Hungary. The day is marked by ceremonies at the Genghis Khan monument in Ulaanbaatar (a 40-meter stainless steel statue on horseback), academic conferences on Mongol history, and the retelling of the Secret History of the Mongols (the oldest surviving Mongolian-language literary work). The day is not without controversy, because Genghis Khan's conquests killed millions, but in Mongolia he is revered as the father of the nation.