Yom Atzmaut- Israeli Independence Day

An official ceremony is held every year on Mount Herzl on the eve of Yom Ha'atzma'ut. The ceremony includes a speech by the speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), a dramatic presentation, a ritual march of soldiers carrying the Flag of Israel, forming elaborate structures (such as a Menorah, Magen David and a number which represents the age of Israel) and the lighting of twelve beacons (each for every one of the Tribes of Israel). Every year a dozen Israeli citizens, who made a significant contribution in a selected area, are invited to light the beacons.

Other traditional events of Yom Ha'atzma'ut:

The International Bible Trivia Quiz חידון התנ"ך.
Israel Prize ceremony טקס חלוקת פרס ישראל.

Yom Ha'atzma'ut falls on the 5th day of Iyar (ה' באייר) on the Hebrew calendar, the anniversary of the day in which Israel independence was proclaimed, when David ben Gurion publicly read the Proclamation of the establishment of the State of Israel. The corresponding Gregorian date was May 14th, 1948.

The festival is celebrated on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday closest to that date. This is to avoid having the festival either on Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, or immediately before or after it. If Iyar 5 falls on Saturday, the festival is advanced to Thursday, Iyar 3, and if on Friday, then it is advanced to Thursday, Iyar 4. In 2004, the law was changed to provide that if Iyar 5 falls on Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday Iyar 6, so that Yom Hazikaron will not be immediately after the sabbath. (The rules of the Hebrew calendar are such that Iyar 5 does not fall on Sunday.)

Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzma'ut:

May 12, 2005 (Thursday)
May 3, 2006 (Wednesday)
April 24, 2007 (Tuesday)
May 8, 2008 (Thursday)
April 29, 2009 (Wednesday)