American holidays & occasions

Washington's Birthday
(Presidents' Day)

Washington's birthday (22 Feb) was first observed as a holiday in 1782, but only became a federal holiday in 1880 (initially only for DC, but from 1885 it was observed by federal offices across the country).

It moved from 22 Feb in 1968, when the Monday Holiday Law was encated to rationalise federal holidays, and moved it to the 3rd Monday in February (possibly in error since this is a day on which Washington's birthday would never actually fall!)

It is still officially called Washington's Birthday, even though it is more commonly called President's Day.

Lincoln's birthday had been observed since 1866, and in 1892 the state of Illinois was the first to recognise it as an official holiday, but it was never given "federal" status. Instead, Washington's Birthday is commonly called President's Day, recognising the fact that it falls between Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays (some states refer to it as Washington-Lincoln Day)

In 1971, Washington's birthday holiday was moved to the 3rd Monday and eventually became known as "Presidents' Day", reflecting the fact that it was close to both Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays.

This holiday honours all soldiers who have fallen in battle. It started during the Civil War, and is marked with parades and memorial services. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day when it was first a federal holiday in 1888.

It is seen as the unofficial start of summer, since many facilities in the US open for their summer season between Memorial Day and Labor Day (or Thanksgiving Day).

Some southern states continue to call it Decoration Day, based on the practice of decorating the graves of those members of the family who died during the war.

It was observed on 30 May until the Monday Holiday Law in 1968 changed it to the last Monday. However, some states still observe Memorial Day on 30th May rather than the federal holiday of the last Monday.

Probably the best known of US holidays, it celebrates the Declaration of Independence on 4th July 1776, and has been observed ever since. It is marked by parades, fireworks and a whole lot more.

Initially (in 1870) this was designated a federal holiday only in Washington DC, but in 1885, it was extended to all federal employees.

Started in 1894, it was the idea of Peter J McGuire, who was the president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. It officially celebrates the American worker, and marks the unofficial end of summer.

Not a legal holiday, but a day used to recognise the duties of an American citizen, particularly those applying for citizenship, who will often take their oath on this day. It was first recognised in 1952.

Celebrates the first landing of Columbus in the Bahamas on 12th October 1492. It was first celebrated as a holiday 300 years later, but wasn't an official holiday until 1909. It is celebrated mainly by Italian-Americans, but is also a proper holiday in some areas.

Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts first gave thanks for their first harvest, and for the new land that they had colonized, in 1621.

It was Lincoln who made this a national observance in 1863, to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. In 1870 it was designated a federal holiday, butonly in Washington DC, and in 1885 it was extended to all federal employees.

In an attempt to increase the retail opportunities up to Christmas, FD Roosevelt brought it forward to the 3rd Thursday in 1939. However, it wasn't a success, and he fixed it once and for all as the 4th Thursday from 1942.