Many national holidays are celebrated throughout the year in the United States.  On these days most government offices and schools are closed and special events or ceremonies honoring the day take place. Americans proudly display the nation's flag and take time to honor and remember the reason for the celebration.   National holidays may include solemn services and ceremonies or picnics and parades.

Martin Luther King Day

We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Monday in January.  King was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929.  He was an African-American Baptist minister who believed in civil rights for all Americans through nonviolent means. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, for his leadership.

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4,1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.  Today memorial services are held throughout the nation honoring this peaceful civil rights leader.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and hear him speak.
http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/citzholcelmlkr.cfm 

Presidents' Day

George Washington was a great leader and General during the Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States.  His birthday, on February 22, 1732, has been celebrated by Americans as a national holiday since the early 19th century.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.  He was the president during the Civil War.  He was born on February 12, 1809. His birthday was celebrated as a holiday in many states, although there was no national celebration.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon joined Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday together and declared the observance of  the national holiday we call Presidents' Day. This day was to honor all past presidents of the United States. Presidents' Day would be celebrated by the nation on the third Monday in February.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day began in Waterloo, NY in 1866, as a ceremony to honor those who died in the Civil War. On a day in May, the graves of the soldiers who died were decorated with flowers, wreaths, and crosses. This celebration was repeated the next year and came to be known as Decoration Day.

The name was changed to Memorial Day in 1882.  It then became a day to honor and pay our respects to all of America's soldiers who had died in wars. Ceremonies were held in cemeteries and churches throughout the nation.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon made the last Monday in May the day we would celebrate Memorial Day as a national holiday. Today it is not only a day to honor veterans who died in service to their country, but also a day to remember all of our loved ones who have died. Across the country Americans visits cemeteries to place flowers, and flags on graves of their loved ones. On Memorial Day we display the United States flag at half-staff until noon as a sign of respect. We celebrate the weekend with family picnics and gatherings.

Flag Day

The Continental Congress chose the stars and stripes pattern for the official flag of United States on June 14, 1777, only one year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This day became known as our "flag's birthday."

President Woodrow Wilson first established the celebration of Flag Day in 1916.  It was not until 1949, however, when President Harry Truman signed legislation designating June 14th the official national Flag Day. Americans observe Flag Day by displaying the stars and stripes on their homes, streets and businesses from sunrise to sunset.

The Fourth of July, or Independence Day

On Independence Day, July 4th, we celebrate our nation's birthday.  The signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, gave us our independence from England. We have been a nation for over 225 years!

Independence Day is celebrated with  picnics, parades, and spectacular nighttime fireworks. Many towns have band concerts in the parks and exciting celebrations and festivals. We proudly fly the American flag on homes, streets, and businesses. 

Labor Day

A Sept 5, 1916 Labor Day parade of  workers

On the first Monday in September, we pay respect to the working people of the United States. This holiday began in 1882, in New York City, as a parade to honor working men and women. In 1894, the United States Congress declared the celebration of Labor Day a national holiday.

Labor Day often marks the beginning of the school year and the end of summer vacation for many school children.  This three day weekend usually brings family get-togethers, picnics, and parades.

Columbus Day

Americans celebrate Columbus day in October.  In 1492, on October 12, Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator and explorer, landed in the New World.   New Yorkers of Italian decent organized the first celebration on October 12, 1866, in New York City.  In the following years, parades, dances and celebrations were held in memory of this historic event. October 12th, celebrations spread to other cities throughout the United States.

Columbus Day was proclaimed a national holiday in 1937, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  In 1971, President Richard Nixon changed the observation date to the second Monday in October.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day was first called Armistice Day. This holiday honored Americans who had served in World War I. At 5:00 A.M. on November 11,1918, World War I ended when the Germans signed the Armistice, the order that all fighting should cease. Celebrations were held throughout America.  Bells rang, whistles blew, business closed, and Americans "took to the streets" for spur-of-the-moment dancing and victory celebrations.

The following year on November 11th, President Woodrow Wilson declared a holiday to be called "Armistice Day."  This national celebration would be a day for remembering the victory in the "war to end all wars."

Soon Americans learned that this had not been the end of all wars.  World War II, and the Korean Conflict brought American servicemen and women back to the battlefields after only a few years of peace.

Armistice Day was given the name Veterans Day in1954, by President Eisenhower.  It would now be a day to remember all veterans, the men and women who served America in all wars.   A national ceremony is held each year at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where a wreath is placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Veterans march in parades, and  flags are proudly displayed throughout the nation.

Other national holidays:

• Inauguration Day: Until 1933, inaugurations were held on March 4, following the presidential elections held in November of the preceding year. Today, our newly elected President of the United States is sworn into office on January 20.
• Armed Forces Day:  The third Saturday in May.
• Election Day: Tuesday on or after November 2.