U.S. law provides for the declaration of selected public observances by the President of the United States as designated by Congress or by the discretion of the President. Generally the President will provide a statement about the purpose and significance of the observance, and call on the people of the United States to observe the day "with appropriate ceremonies and activities". These events are typically to honor or commorate a public issue or social cause, ethnic group, historic event or noted individual. However, (with several exceptions) there is no requirement that government or business close on these days, and many members of the general public may not be aware that such holidays even exist. Holidays proclaimed in this way may be considered a U.S. "national observance", but it would be improper to refer to them as a "Federal holiday".
In addition to annual commemorative events, the President may proclaim a day or period designated for mourning or prayer after the death of noted officials including U.S. Presidents and Chief Justices of the Supreme Court or after major tragic events or disasters with serious casualties.[1]
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Special days recognized by presidential proclamation
BOLD indicates public holiday - most government agencies and major businesses closed.
- Religious Freedom Day (January 16)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday (third Monday in January)[2]
- National Sanctity of Human Life Day (third Sunday in January)
- Education and Sharing Day (late March or April-based on Hebrew Calendar)
- Greek Independence Day (March 25)
- National D.A.R.E. Day (second Thursday in April)
- National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (April 9)
- Pan American Day and week (April 14 and week thereof)
- Armenian Remembrance Day (April 24)[3]
- Loyalty Day (May 1)
- Law Day, U.S.A. (May 1)
- National Day of Prayer (first Thursday in May)
- Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
- National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week (third Friday in May and week thereof)
- National Maritime Day (May 22)
- Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day (last Monday in May) [4]
- National Child's Day (first Monday in June)
- Flag Day, and National Flag Week (June 14 and week thereof)
- Father's Day (third Sunday in June)
- National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27) (originally ended 2003, reinstated in 2009)
- Parent's Day (last Sunday in July)
- National Airborne Day (August 16)
- Women's Equality Day (August 26)
- National Days of Prayer and Remembrance (weekend prior to September 11)
- Patriot Day (September 11)
- National POW/MIA Recognition Day (Third Friday in September)
- Citizenship Day and Constitution Week (September 17 and week thereof)
- Family Day (fourth Monday in September)
- Gold Star Mother's Day (last Sunday in September)
- Child Health Day (first Monday in October)
- German-American Day (October 6)
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October)[5]
- Leif Erikson Day (October 9)
- General Pulaski Memorial Day (October 11)
- White Cane Safety Day (October 15)
- United Nations Day (October 24)
- World Freedom Day (November 9)
- Veterans Day (November 11)[6]
- America Recycles Day (November 15)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)[7]
- Native American Heritage Day (Friday after Thanksgiving)[8]
- World AIDS Day (December 1)
- National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7)
- Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week (December 10 and week beginning of)
- Bill of Rights Day (December 15)
- Wright Brothers Day (December 17)
Special weeks recognized by presidential proclamation
- National Consumer Protection Week (first week of February)
- Save Your Vision Week (first week of March)
- National Poison Prevention Week (third week of March)
- National Volunteer Week (last week of April)
- National Crime Victims' Rights Week (April)
- National Park Week (last week of April)
- World Trade Week (third week of May)
- National Hurricane Preparedness Week (third week in May)
- National Safe Boating Week (week prior to Memorial Day)
- Captive Nations Week (third week of July)
- Minority Enterprise Development Week (September)
- National Farm Safety and Health Week (third week of September)
- National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week (September)
- Fire Prevention Week (week of October 9)
- National School Lunch Week (week of the second Sunday in October)
- National Forest Products Week (week of the third Sunday in October)
- National Character Counts Week (third week in October)
- National Farm-City Week (week prior to Thanksgiving)
- National Family Week (week of Thanksgiving)
Special months recognized by presidential proclamation
- American Heart Month (February)
- Black History Month (February)
- American Red Cross Month (March)
- Women's History Month (March)
- Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
- Cancer Control Month (April)
- National Donate Life Month (April)
- Prevent Child Abuse Month (April)
- Older Americans Month (May)
- Jewish American Heritage Month (May)[9]
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May)[10]
- Mental Health Awareness Month (May)
- Gay and Lesbian Pride Month (June)
- Caribbean-American Heritage Month (June) [1], [2], [3]
- Great Outdoors Month (June)
- Black Music Month (June)
- National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (September)
- National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September)
- National Preparedness Month (September)
- National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15)[11]
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)
- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October)
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
- National Hospice Month (November)
- National Adoption Month (November)
- National Family Caregivers Month (November)
- National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month (November)
- National Diabetes Month (November)
- National American Indian Heritage Month (November)
- National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month (December)
Defunct observances
The following observances have been mandated or authorized by Congress, but are no longer proclaimed or observed on a regular basis.
- Baltic Freedom Day (June 14) (1982-1992)
- National Catfish Day (June 25) (1987)
Notes
- ^ Presidential Proclamations Project, University of Houston. http://www.polsci.uh.edu/database/procdatabase.asp
- ^ Established by Congress 1983, first observed 1986.
- ^ Although not officially proclaimed by the President, it is typical for the President to issue a statement recogizing the events in Armenia and their aftermath.
- ^ Memorial Day was made an official observance by Congress in 1950 on May 30, Uniform Holiday Law in 1968 set date as last Monday in May.
- ^ Observed on October 12 beginning 1934. Since 1971, observed on second Monday of October per Uniform Holiday Law
- ^ Obeserved as Armistice Day from 1919-54. Between 1971-78, observed on fourth Monday of October per Uniform Holiday Law
- ^ Oldest proclaimed observance in US history, dating back to 1863 with Abraham Lincoln.
- ^ Designated under Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-33)
- ^ Observed beginning 2006, formerly "Jewish Heritage Week" (1980-2005).
- ^ Observed as Asian Pacific American Hertitage Week until 1990.
- ^ Observed as National Hispanic Hertiage Week beginning in 1968, became a month-long event in 1989
See also
External links
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