You know that there are federal holidays, like Christmas, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day that are celebrated by giving federal employees the day off. On top of that, most state employees also get the day off, and many banks and other service providers are closed on those holidays. But many states have additional holidays.
My state, Utah, celebrates Pioneer Day on the 24th of July every year, commemorating when the Mormons first entered the Salt Lake Valley after a trek of more than 1,000 miles, by foot and by wagon, to escape religious persecution. State employees get the day off, but not federal employees (so we still get mail delivery).
As I sat there, lighting off fireworks for Pioneer Day, I began to wonder about other state holidays. Here are some of the holidays you can expect to find around the country:
Lee-Jackson Day: Virginia celebrates this day in honor of the birthdates of Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson. The holiday is celebrated the Friday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Robert E. Lee’s birthday is celebrated the day after the fourth Thursday in November in Georgia.
Confederate Heroes’ Day: Texas takes the opportunity to celebrate Civil War heroes on January 19 each year.
Lincoln’s Birthday: A few states actually celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12, rather than lumping it with Washington’s birthday for President’s Day. Illinois, predictably, is one of them, but Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Missouri also celebrate this day. Indiana celebrates Lincoln’s birthday the day after Thanksgiving.
Mardi Gras: “Fat Tuesday” is celebrated just before Ash Wednesday in New Orleans. It’s a holiday in Louisiana, and offers a chance to party hard before Lent.
Texas Independence Day: As you probably know, Texas was its own Republic for a while. March 2 is the observed day recognizing Texan independence from Mexico. Sam Houston, also receives recognition this day.
Evacuation Day: In Suffolk County, Massachusetts, a state holiday celebrating the forced evacuation of the British from Boston is held on March 17. It marks the first major victory George Washington experienced during the Revolutionary War. Suffolk County also celebrates Bunker Hill Day on June 17.
Seward Day: Alaska likes to celebrate the Alaska Purchase treaty of 1867 on the last Monday of each March. It commemorates William H. Seward, who, as Secretary of State, negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
Cesar Chavez Day: The labor hero Cesar Chavez is immortalized in California on March 31 (or the following Monday or preceding Friday).
Patriots’ Day: In Massachusetts and Maine, Patriots’ Day is a comemmoration of the battles at Lexington and Concord. It is normally observed the third Monday in April.
San Jacinto Day: Another Texas state holiday, this day marks the day that Sam Houston led Texan troops in a surprise attack against Santa Ana in an 18-minute battle.
Confederate Memorial Day: A few Southern states still commemorate the Confederacy with special days. In Alabama, the day is the fourth Monday in April, in Georgia it is April 26, in Mississippi it’s the last Monday in April. South Carolina celebrates on May 10.
Jefferson Davis’ Birthday: Jefferson Davis is one of the most prominent Southern leaders of the Civil War, as the only President of the Confederacy. In Alabama, he is remembered on the first Monday in June. Other Southern states informally celebrate.
King Kamehameha Day: Hawaii become prosperous after this king gained control of all the islands, and his unification of Hawaii is considered one of the reasons that Western imperialism didn’t have as large an impact on Hawaiian culture as it might have had. This holiday is celebrated around June 11.
Bennington Battle Day: Vermont celebrates this patriotic holiday on August 16, remembering this battle, which was a turning point in the Revolutionary War in 1777.
Statehood Day: Hawaii celebrates its admission as the 50th state added to the United States in 1959. The third Friday in August is used to celebrate.
Family Day: Nevada makes it a point to celebrate families on the day after Thanksgiving.
Christmas Eve: Most states do not consider Christmas Eve an official holiday, and the federal government doesn’t. However, it is a holiday in Arkansas and Wisconsin. Wisconsin also designates New Year’s Eve as a holiday. Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and South Carolina see the day after Christmas as a state holiday.
Did I miss any? What state holidays does your state observe?
Sources: Infoplease.com and Wikipedia.com
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
i grew up in Virginia and never heard of Lee-Jackson Day…we celebrated Presidents day is that the same?