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The Surprising Beginnings of Independence Day
Every July 4th, Americans gather for fireworks and barbecues, but the truth is, Congress didn’t vote for independence on July 4, 1776. The actual vote happened on July 2. John Adams even thought July 2 would be the holiday. The Declaration of Independence was mostly signed on August 2. The public only found out about the July 4th date because that’s when the document was dated. It took decades for the holiday to catch on; it wasn’t until after the War of 1812 that July 4 became a regular celebration. The day was made a federal holiday in 1870, and fireworks became a tradition thanks to 19th-century technology making pyrotechnics more available.
Labor Day: A Protest Turned National Celebration
Labor Day started with a march—not a party. In 1882, thousands of New York City workers took unpaid time off to protest for better working conditions. The idea came from unions who wanted recognition and fair labor laws. The federal government only made it a holiday in 1894, after the deadly Pullman Strike. President Grover Cleveland signed it into law to ease tensions with labor unions. Statistics show that over 160 million people make up America’s workforce today, far different from the factory-heavy labor force of the 19th century. The day now marks the unofficial end of summer, but its roots are firmly in protest and social change.
Thanksgiving: More Than Just Pilgrims and Pie
Thanksgiving’s story goes way beyond Pilgrims and Native Americans. While there was a harvest feast in 1621, the holiday didn’t become official until Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation in the middle of the Civil War. Lincoln’s goal was to unite the country and offer hope. The date was debated until President Franklin D. Roosevelt set it as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941. Today, about 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation. The holiday’s meaning has shifted over time, reflecting everything from gratitude to football and family reunions.
Memorial Day: Born from the Ashes of the Civil War
Memorial Day began as “Decoration Day” after the Civil War to honor fallen soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers. The first large observance was in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery, with 5,000 people attending. It wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day became an official federal holiday and was set for the last Monday in May. Today, over 1.3 million Americans have died in military service, and the holiday is marked by parades, remembrance ceremonies, and family gatherings. Its somber roots are often overshadowed by the start-of-summer celebrations.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Dream Realized Decades Later
Martin Luther King Jr. Day didn’t exist until 1983, despite King’s assassination in 1968. The campaign for the holiday lasted 15 years and faced fierce opposition. Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” song and six million petition signatures finally pushed Congress to act. The first official federal observance was in 1986. Some states resisted for years—Arizona didn’t recognize it until 1992. Now, MLK Day is a day of service and reflection, with thousands of volunteer events nationwide every January.
Veterans Day: From Armistice to All Veterans
Veterans Day was first known as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. President Eisenhower changed the name in 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans, not just those from World War I. Today, there are more than 18 million living veterans in the United States. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day celebrates living veterans as well as the deceased. Parades and ceremonies are common, and federal offices close in observance.
Presidents’ Day: Washington, Lincoln, and a Calendar Mix-Up
Presidents’ Day began as George Washington’s Birthday, celebrated on February 22. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted it to the third Monday in February, to give workers more three-day weekends. The holiday now unofficially includes Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is also in February, and sometimes all presidents. Retailers took advantage of the vague name, turning it into a shopping event. The federal government still calls it Washington’s Birthday, although most people think of it as Presidents’ Day.
Juneteenth: Freedom Delayed, Finally Celebrated
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned about the Emancipation Proclamation—two and a half years after it was signed. Texas made it a state holiday in 1980, but it only became a federal holiday in 2021 after nationwide protests and renewed attention to racial justice. Now, Juneteenth is celebrated in all 50 states with parades, music, and community events. Nearly 80% of Americans are aware of Juneteenth today, up from less than 40% a decade ago.
Columbus Day: A Controversial Celebration
Columbus Day has been celebrated since 1792, marking the 300th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s landing. It became a federal holiday in 1937. Italian Americans promoted the holiday as a way to gain acceptance in America. In recent years, more cities and states have shifted to celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead, reflecting new research on the impact of European colonization. As of 2024, over 20 states officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of or alongside Columbus Day.
Flag Day: An Overlooked Tradition
Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777. President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day in 1916, but it’s not a federal holiday. The tradition is strongest in Pennsylvania, where schools and communities hold parades and ceremonies. In 1949, Congress made it official, but federal offices remain open. The day is about patriotism and respect for the flag, but most Americans don’t get a day off.
New Year’s Day: Ancient Roots, American Customs
New Year’s Day celebrations go back thousands of years to Babylon and Rome, but in America, it became a federal holiday in 1870. Traditions like watching the ball drop in Times Square only began in 1907. Over 1 billion people worldwide watch the event each year. Americans celebrate with resolutions, parades, football games, and parties. The holiday is second only to Christmas in terms of spending and travel.
Christmas Day: From Pilgrim Ban to National Holiday
Christmas wasn’t always a beloved holiday in America. Early Puritans in Massachusetts banned it, considering it too rowdy and non-religious. The holiday gained popularity in the 19th century with the introduction of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and holiday cards. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1870. Today, over 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas, making it the most widely observed holiday in the country.
Hanukkah: A Festival Finding Its Place
Hanukkah is not a federal holiday, but its visibility has grown alongside Christmas. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. In America, Hanukkah became prominent in the 20th century, as Jewish communities sought recognition and inclusion. The National Menorah lighting on the White House lawn began in 1979. Over 5 million Americans celebrate Hanukkah each year, with gifts, food, and family gatherings.
Halloween: From Celtic Festival to Candy Craze
Halloween’s origins lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of harvest. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America in the 19th century, mixing it with local customs. By the 1920s, Halloween had become a children’s holiday focused on costumes and trick-or-treating. Today, Americans spend over $10 billion annually on Halloween, making it the second biggest commercial holiday after Christmas.
Easter: Blending Faith and Fun
Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, but traditions like the Easter Bunny and egg hunts come from pagan spring festivals. The White House Easter Egg Roll has been an annual event since 1878. About 80% of Americans observe Easter in some way, whether through religious services or family meals. The holiday is not a federal holiday, but some states give government workers the day off.
St. Patrick’s Day: From Religious Feast to Green Parade
St. Patrick’s Day began as a religious feast in Ireland but became a huge celebration in America thanks to Irish immigrants. The first parade was held in New York City in 1762. The holiday grew in popularity as a symbol of Irish pride and identity. Today, cities like Chicago dye their rivers green, and over 30 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. The day is now about parades, food, and wearing green.
Mother’s Day: One Woman’s Campaign
Mother’s Day wouldn’t exist without Anna Jarvis, who started a letter-writing campaign in 1908 after her mother’s death. President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday in 1914. Jarvis later criticized the holiday’s commercialization, but it remains hugely popular. Americans spend over $30 billion on gifts and celebrations each year. The day is marked by cards, flowers, and family meals.
Father’s Day: A Struggle for Recognition
Father’s Day was inspired by Mother’s Day but faced resistance for decades. Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, began campaigning for the holiday in 1910. It wasn’t until 1972, under President Nixon, that Father’s Day became a national holiday. The day now involves giving gifts, cards, and spending time together. Americans spend about $20 billion on Father’s Day, far less than Mother’s Day.
Pride Month: A Movement Grows
Pride Month, celebrated every June, marks the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. The first Pride marches took place in 1970. Today, more than 500 cities across the U.S. hold Pride parades and events. President Biden recognized Pride Month with a White House proclamation in 2021. The month is about visibility, rights, and celebration for LGBTQ+ Americans, with rainbow flags flying everywhere.
Groundhog Day: From German Folklore to American Tradition
Groundhog Day arrived with German immigrants in Pennsylvania. The first celebration in Punxsutawney was in 1887. The tradition says if the groundhog sees its shadow, winter will last six more weeks. The 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” made the holiday famous worldwide. Each year, about 40,000 people visit Punxsutawney on February 2. The event is both fun and quirky, with no official status but lots of fans.
Valentine’s Day: Commerce and Cupid
Valentine’s Day has roots in both Roman and Christian traditions. It became popular in America in the 19th century with the rise of greeting cards. Today, Americans spend nearly $25 billion on candy, cards, and gifts each February 14. The holiday is about romance, but also friendship and family. Schools, businesses, and couples all join in, making it one of the most commercially successful holidays of the year.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
