Holidays, Observances and the Calendar Flashcards
New Year’s Day*
January 1
Martin Luther King’s Birthday*
3rd Monday in January (Jan. 15-21) (actual day is January 15)
President’s Day*
3rd Monday in February (Feb. 15-21) (Lincoln-Feb. 12, Washington-Feb. 22 (Feb 11 on Julian calendar which changed in 1752))
Memorial Day*
last Monday in May (May 25-31) (aka Decoration Day)
Independence Day*
July 4
Labor Day*
1st Monday in September (Sep. 1-7)
Columbus Day*
2nd Monday in October (Oct. 8-14) (actually landed on October 12, 1492) (aka Discoverer’s Day, Pioneer’s Day)
Election Day*
1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday (Nov. 2-8)
Veterans’ Day*
November 11 (aka Armistice Day)
Thanksgiving*
4th Thursday in November (Nov. 22-28) (first proclaimed by Lincoln)
Christmas Day*
December 25
Groundhog Day
February 2
Valentine’s Day
February 14
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17
Easter
First Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the March equinox (Mar. 22 - Apr. 25)
Equinox
The two days when day and night are of equal length and the beginnings of spring and autumn.
Solstice
The two days when the Sun is at its extreme northern position (the Tropic of Cancer, first day of summer) or southern position (the Tropic of Capricorn, first day of winter)
Vernal (spring) Equinox
About March 21
Summer Solstice
About June 21
Autumnal Equinox
About September 23
Winter Solstice
About December 21
January
Janus, a Roman god
February
Februalia, a Roman period of sacrifices to atone for sins
March
Mars, Roman god of war
