Nelson Mandela International Day, also known as Mandela Day, is annually observed on July 18, Mandela’s birthday. It commemorates the lifetime of service Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on July 18, 2010. However, the first Mandela Day was launched in New York on July 18, 2009, Mandela’s 91st birthday.