Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in United States?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day in United States is on January 20, 2025. It falls on Monday.
How many days until Martin Luther King Jr. Day in United States?
There are 270 Days left until Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States.
Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day a public holiday in United States?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January each year in the United States. The holiday is also called MLK Day. This day is celebrated to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, an icon of civil rights, whose birthdate falls on January 15th. Due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the celebration is made to occur every third Monday of the said month, resulting in a longer weekend.
About Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January each year in the United States. The holiday is also called MLK Day. This day is to celebrate the birthdate of Martin Luther King, Jr. (an icon of civil rights) which falls on January 15. Due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the celebration is moved every Monday, resulting in long-weekends.
Martin Luther King’s Background
Martin Luther King was a civil rights leader, Baptist Minister, and a humanist who expanded the idea of equal rights. He was one of the leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement in 1960s, along with Malcolm X and many others. Luther promotes human rights and equality among all American people, regardless of their origin and race. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most renowned speeches in history known as “I Have a Dream”. This holiday is observed to honor and reminisce what Luther had contributed to help shape the American justice and equality.
When did Martin Luther King Jr. Day become a public holiday?
On year 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill making Martin Luther King Day a federal holiday. Its first celebration happened 3 years after the holiday was established. Other countries outside United States also recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day such as Japan, Canada, and Netherlands, though it is not part of their official public holidays.
Common American Activities during MLK Day
While there are few businesses which continue to operate on this day, most of the companies would close, and employees are naturally given a day off. As a federal holiday, government institutions and schools tend to close as well (though there are some schools and universities which remain open to educate the students about the life of Martin Luther King).
The following includes the most common activities observed by the Americans during Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day.
Local Marches and MLK Parades
One of the most common ways to celebrate this holiday is by attending local marches and parades. There are some localities/areas in the country which typically organize this type of events each year, and usually invites the public to participate. These parades are usually followed by speeches addressed by political and civil rights leaders. In addition, reading Luther’s works or watching films or documentaries are also common activities which some Americans do during the day’s celebration.
Public Lectures
Parents and some of the country’s educational institutions take this day to teach children about Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and its importance in promoting civil rights. Some children perform an activity where they create decorations using different colors such as black, white, and brown which symbolize the various skin tones in the country as a way of teaching the concept of racial equality.
Greeting Cards
Making an MLK (Martin Luther King) card for friends, families, and co-workers is also a practice done by the Americans. Such cards are created to greet others during this holiday and make a special message for them.
Importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to the American society
This holiday exists to honor the legacy and service of Martin Luther King Jr. To the current American society, this day is seen perfect for promoting social justice and equality regardless of people’s racial origins and backgrounds. The public are therefore encouraged to understand and support civil rights and to be mindful also on the relevant issues of today concerning the people of color, as that reflects to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 20 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 2026 | January 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 2027 | January 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 2028 | January 17 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 2029 | January 15 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 2030 | January 21 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Mother's Day | May 12, 2024 |
| Memorial Day | May 27, 2024 |
| Father's Day | June 16, 2024 |
Download or print free 2024 calendar which includes the list of holidays in United States. Free holiday calendar templates in more than 130 countries are provided in PDF, Excel, and Microsoft Word format. For those who like to get a calendar that starts on Monday, we also have ISO calendar.
The April 2024 monthly calendar for the United States shows the holidays for the month, which is helpful in planning schedule and events in reference to the upcoming holidays in the US. It is available in PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel formats. You may select your preferred orientation and preferred start of week since we have Monday start calendar or Sunday start calendar.
If you are looking to print or download just a list of holidays in United States for the year 2024, we have that available in PDF, Word and Excel formats. This can be helpful for those who like to keep track of the holidays, be it for travel, work or any other purposes. It is free to use, just like the rest of our templates.