The people of Nauru celebrates "Angam Day" - the Day of Fulfillment" - on October 26 to commemorate the birth of the 1500th Nauruan at the end of the epidemic in 1920s.

Brief Historical Overview

Nauruans experienced a dramatic drop in population in 1920 due to the influenza epidemic. The total number of Nauruans decreased terrifyingly reaching a level of only 1,068 people. This appalling "demographic drop" caused fear for the continuing survival of community.

The effect this flu on the Nauruans was most ravaging because the epidemic erupted in a population that was just recovering from another disaster, a dysentry epidemic. This disease had been brought to Nauru by Chinese laborers, for whom quarantine was not sufficiently enforced, and, in 1907, 150 died of dysentery.

The health situation was in a precarious state; beside the loss of people, there was debilitation, weakening those who had escaped death. After this catastrophy, it took twelve years for the population to reach again the level of 1,500.

It was not until the 26th of October 1932 that the 1,500th Nauruan - a baby girl called Eidaruwo, was born. There was a great celebration and the event was commemorated by declaring the day a public holiday, called Angam Day --- because it had achieved the hope of all Nauruans. This day has always since been celebrated, except during the years of the Second World War, when the Nauruan population once more dropped under 1,500. It was not until March 1949, that, again, the 1,500th Nauruan was born and Amgam Day was celebrated for the first time since 1941. It is still celebrated today.