When is Memorial Day in the United States in 2024?
In May, the fourth holiday of the year is celebrated in the United States: Memorial Day. Know the exact date on which it is celebrated and why.
The Memorial Day celebration is fast approaching. The United States government has established 11 official holidays, from New Year’s Day to Christmas , Juneteenth Day being the newest after being established as a holiday in 2021.
As of this April, three holidays have been celebrated, including New Year’s Day on January 1, Martin Luther King Day on January 15, and George Washington’s Birthday, as well known as Presidents’ Day, February 19.
Memorial Day, the next federal holiday in the USA: when is it celebrated?
Memorial Day is the fourth holiday of the year. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May, so in 2024, it will be commemorated on Monday, May 27.
Originally called Decoration Day, due to the tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those They died serving in the United States Armed Forces.
According to PBS, it was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, through a proclamation by General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.
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In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the end of the 19th century, many more cities and communities joined together to observe this day, but it took several years for to become official at the national level.
Although Memorial Day originally only honored those who died in the Civil War, this changed after World War I. Since then, that day has been designated to commemorate all those who have died serving their country in combat.
It was not until 1971 that the United States Congress decreed the last Monday in May as a federal holiday.
How is Memorial Day celebrated?
Memorial Day is commemorated each year at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the president or vice president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The United States flag is also placed at half-mast, from dawn to noon. On the other hand, like other federal holidays, on Memorial Day, government offices, banks and some private sector businesses are closed.
Of the 11 official federal holidays, some are celebrated on specific dates, while others change dates each year. Additionally, holidays can be observed a day earlier or later if they fall on a weekend. This is the complete calendar for 2024.