Spectacular bonfires in the shape of the character dai are burned on hillsides on the last day of the Bon or O-Bon Festival, bidding farewell to the spirits of the dead. July 16 Founding of city, now capital of Bolivia, on this day, 1548. Shiva Asar B'Tammuz begins at the first light of day and commemorates the first century Roman siege that breached the walls of Jerusalem. It begins a three-week time of mourning. This legal national holiday commemorates the proclamation of the constitution of the republic of Korea on July 17, 1948.
Ceremonies take place at Seoul's capitol plaza and all major cities.
A public holiday on the anniversary of the birth of Luis Munoz-Rivera. The Puerto Rican patriot, poet and journalist was born at Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, on July 17, 1859. He died at Santurce, a suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 15, 1916.