On 26 December 1888 a national gathering took place in the courthouse of Tórshavn. This “Christmas Meeting”, as it was later termed, has come to signify the beginning of Faroese political nationalism. At the meeting the nationalist Jóannes Patursson proclaimed a Faroese National Movement with his poem Nú er tann stundin komin til handa (“Now is the time”). Over the following decades a great number of National Meetings or Fólkafundir were held all over the Faroe Islands.

The national day of the Faroe Islands is the Ólavsøka (29 July), commemorating St Olav of Norway (Olaf Haraldsson). The day has later taken on a new meaning as the national day, when people dress in national costumes called Búnin and the Løgting (Faroese governing assembly) opens.

In the 20th century various statues have been erected, celebrating the characters of Sigmund and Tróndur (from the Faroe Saga) and honouring cultural hero-figures such as V.U. Hammershaimb, the unveiling usually being accompanied by commemorative festivals.