Capital: Damascus (population estimated at 5 million in 2004). Other Major Cities: Aleppo (4.5 million), Homs (1.8 million), Hamah (1.6 million), Al Hasakah (1.3 million), Idlib (1.2 million), and Latakia (1 million). Independence: Syrians celebrate their independence on April 17, known as Evacuation Day, in commemoration of the departure of French forces in 1946. Public Holidays: Public holidays observed in Syria include New Year's Day (January 1), Revolution Day (March 8), Evacuation Day (April 17), Egypt's Revolution Day (July 23), Union of Syria, Egypt, and Libya (September 1), Martyrs' Day, to commemorate the public hanging of 21 dissidents in 1916 (May 6), the beginning of the 1973 October War (October 6), National Day (November 16), and Christmas Day (December 25). Religious feasts with movable dates include Eid al Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, Muharram, the Islamic New Year, Greek Orthodox Easter, Mouloud/Yum an Nabi, celebration of the birth of Muhammad, ...