BAGHDAD— It has been more than 17 years since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, and yet, political forces do not seem to attribute any importance to national holidays or a national anthem. Such symbolic national elements could help unite Iraqi society around one national identity based, say, on dates marking major events and challenges their parents and ancestors underwent and overcame through their solidarity.

Paradoxically, according to a high-ranking official in the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Many countries still send congratulation letters to Iraqi officials on the occasion of Iraq National Day on July 17, the anniversary of the Baath Party’s ascent to power in 1968. It was the recognized national day during the Baath regime’s era.”

Determining the national day has been a topic of debate in Iraq since the fall of the Baath regime. The Iraqi Governing Council, which took over power from Iraq’s civilian administrator, Paul Bremer, declared the day of Baghdad's fall on April 9, 2003, a national day. Objections led to the cancellation of celebrations on that date, as while it represented the fall of Saddam’s Baathist party it also stood for the occupation of the country by foreign forces.

It recently appeared that Oct. 3 was on its way to becoming Iraq's new national day.