KUWAIT CITY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- On Feb. 25 and 26 every year, Kuwait celebrates its National and Liberation Days.
In 2020, Kuwait celebrates the 59th National Day and the 29th Liberation Day.
Every year, thousands of Kuwaitis gather for the celebration at the Kuwait Towers in the Gulf Street.
At parks and beaches in the capital city, some people gathered with their friends and families.
In the streets, children joyfully threw water balloons and sprayed each other with their water guns.
The cars were decorated with Kuwaiti flags while people were wearing their traditional costumes.
At the beginning, June 19 was marked as the National Day, but the country decided to change it to Feb. 25 due to the extreme heat in June.
The Liberation Day celebrates the liberation from the Iraqi occupation in 1991.
Fahad Al-Misbah, 48-year-old banker, told Xinhua how his family celebrated the National Day in the past.
Military parade and popular celebrations were held and people watched them in the streets despite the high temperatures, he said.
Khalid Al-Sarraf, 43-year-old professor, recalled how they were going on foot from the Al-Soor Street in Kuwait City to attend the military parade in the Gulf Street, which was held to celebrate the National Day.
"The floor was carpeted and tents were set up to receive the ruling family, and citizens would come to attend the military parade and some other popular performance, where the celebrations have a meaning and a special taste of joy," he said.
"People decorated their house with colorful lights, flags and fireworks were also set up at night," he said, adding that flags were set up at buildings and displayed at major points to show patriotism.
Jassem Al-Manea, a Kuwaiti engineer, said that "during the celebrations, citizens, expats, tourists, and even street workers share a moment in the streets where they play with water balloons and give candies to strangers," he added.
"It is spreading a good spirit around," he stressed.
As for Salim Al-Hussaini, a business owner, the National and Liberation days are about family, when his family members gather in his elder brother's house and share traditional food and drinks with Kuwaiti traditional costumes.
